The limits of snarky

Happy Kitty Bunny Pony: A Saccharine Mouthful of Super Cute was a great book to browse and laugh at after visiting the Art Institute of Chicago.  Alongside ultra-cute drawings and photos of (you guessed it) kitties, bunnies, and ponies, are witty, cutting lines like: "Ponies scare easily.  If you open an umbrella near a pony, it is likely to startle and stomp you to death." But, when you read the book straight through, instead of just laughing and pointing at random pages with your best friend, it becomes clear it's a one-note joke.  The shock wears off, and you're left with snarky comments for the sake of snarkiness.

You could read the book as a critique of the way advertising distorts perfectly legitimate qualities when they are marshalled in the act of selling a product or service.  It could make you think, "yes, it is weird that I'm eating Hello Kitty Pop Tarts." If you stop and think about the premise of many advertisements, especially those on television, they start to seem absurd.  Does buying pizza equal family harmony?  Have you actually overheard someone at a restaurant telling their friends what store their totally awesome engagement ring came from?

Charles S Anderson Design put out the book, and they have some major clients, from Coca-Cola to Pepsi, from Best Buy to Circuit City.  When you factor this in, it's hard to see the book as a genuine critique of advertising.  Instead, I think it might merely be members of the firm letting off a little steam.  Whatever it is, it leaves me feeling snarky myself.