Irony or Tragedy
Isn’t it strange how “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette has been used in so many films, including the new Shrek 4? Bob Harris wrote about the song in his “New York Times” column: “If it rains on your wedding day, that’s a coincidence, not an irony. If you win the lottery and pass away before collecting your winnings, it’s good fortune followed by bad fortune.” It’s a bummer if a tune called “Ironic” contains no irony; is this itself ironic?
Now, I’m not 100% certain that I’m using the term any more effectively than Alanis, but it appears to me that this two-panel comic strip is an excellent example of irony. When you’ve already paid for a free ride, what about “buy 2 get 1 free” when there are only two items on the shelf?