Abandoned entry: Restoring the dignity of the dictator (and ourselves). What is left: digressions about irony and sincerity, Nixon and Jiang Qing, the tyranny of humor, the humor of tyranny

I have labored for several days over an argument: Caricatures, parody, and irony have come to replace sincere understanding of politics. In a time of stupidity and irrationality, the gag has replaced analysis. This was motivated by, in particular, a discussion of parodic images of Xi Jinping and their limitations. Whether or not there is a popular belie…