This is the Modern World

It's true there's almost nothing more dreary than praising something for it's "subversive" qualities. Irony, anarchy, all the formerly cool other things ending in -y; all have become virtually mainstream. Fake rebellion abounds. But then it's hard not admire something that actually is subversive. I'm going to forego the temptation to continue in the great tradition of intellectuals ruining perfectly good jokes in an effort to explain why they are funny--Freud immediately comes to mind . . .

Exhibit A: "And Knowing Is Half The Battle

It really doesn't matter whether or not you're able to retrieve any personal memories of those already-surreal G.I. Joe PSAs; the wholly anarchic quality of these overdubs is pretty self-evident. My absolute favourites are the most spare and enigmatic ones, above all "010," the one in which two kids about imbibe some unknown noxious substance then become engaged in a spontaneous "toasting" session with some dude who appears at the window. There's a kind of gleeful embrace of the absurd in these pieces that is very satisfying, although I found my common reaction was often, "Wha...?

Exhibit B: "I'm the Juggernaut, Bitch."

Sure, for all you internet cognescenti out there this is yesterday's news. But it is still damn funny. The real genius here lies in the interplay between the overdub and the visuals. For those who recall the original dialogue--or at least have the gist of it--there's the hilarious tension between the incredible whiteness of the original series, and the over-the-top gangsta treatment it gets here. Moreover, the new dialogue demonstrates an incredible sensitivity to undercurrents latent in the visuals--I'm thinking in particular of all the sexualized elements, but also the constant references to the costumes, which are hilarious.