A review by elly29
Weird Al: Seriously by Dr. Demento, Lily E. Hirsch

funny informative medium-paced

5.0

I loved this. I love that Weird Al was critiqued academically. Hirsch had me with at her first quote, from philosopher Roland Barthes and her using it to segue immediately into a discussion of food and how food is a way to enter into parodic territory ("eg "Eat It, "Fat," "Taco Grande"). 

I enjoyed thinking about parody and its purpose, the hallmarks of parody and how it differs from mockery, the intersection between humor and seriousness, the necessity of relevance, the staying power of fame, what it means to be "big enough to be parodied by Weird Al," and learning all the ways that Weird Al has permeated our culture. (For example, I've gotta rewatch the Weird Al episode of "30 Rock", in which Al parodies a song Jenna sings, and then she re-parodies it back...) I like that the public-facing visage of Weird Al as an all-around good and well-meaning celebrity seems to be the truth (even if he's self-effacing, saying he'd like to be remembered for his nice shoes). 

I loved how academic this was. Indeed, when listening to "Perform This Way" or "Drivin' a Truck," I don't *think* about the gender implications, but I know that a big trucker in a pink angora sweater and high heels is funny because it subverts our expectations. Similarly, the interrogation of insider/outsider status, like with "White n Nerdy" or "Amish Paradise". And I like that Hirsch took those themes apart and in doing so elevated Weird Al's work. 

Sometimes the writing felt frenetic; Hirsch would toss out a lyric as evidence of a certain broader cultural critique from one song, and then another song, without going into a deep dive on the mechanics or the work a particular song was doing. As the book progressed and she dealt with meatier topics represented in a single song, her arguments became more cogent.

But, overall, delightful. And I loved getting a glimpse into the details of Weird Al's life and cultural relevance.