HAPPY CLAPPY!

That Joe Duffy radio show about the Dublin Fringe Theatre Festival was great! One phrase that stood out was 'happy clappy'. So what does it mean? It relates to dumbed down entertainment and diluted art, that has no relation to reality with everyone involved giving 100% and smiling. Politically correct equality nonsense that gets acclaim no matter the content. The kind of stuff that's crap but so good-natured and well-intentioned that people can't criticise without being labelled racist/sexist/elitist. A lot of Irish film is 'happy clappy' too. The 'right cast', the interview on the Late Late Show, the three-star review in the Irish Times, the respectable director (who previously made an award-winning short), the based on a true story script, the well-received world premiere in Galway Film Fleadh, the quality cinematography, the enthusiastic cast, and the general vibe of 'it's a good film before getting released'. Happy clappy is everyone in Irish Film these days!