Question

Irony refers to a contrast between appearance and reality. What does Schlosser mean when he says, “Calling any of these flavors ‘natural’ requires a flexible attitude toward the English language and a fair amount of irony”?

Answer 1

Schlosser uses irony to critique how the term 'natural' is applied to certain flavors, which might not be natural in the conventional sense. He highlights the contrast between the label and the actual process behind these flavors, indicating a flexible use of language and reality.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Schlosser states, “Calling any of these flavors ‘natural’ requires a flexible attitude toward the English language and a fair amount of irony,” he is highlighting the discrepancy between the common understanding of what is 'natural' and the possibly artificial nature of these flavors. The term 'natural' suggests something that comes from nature, without human alteration. However, the process by which these flavors are created may be far from what one would typically consider 'natural.'

This statement employs irony as it points out the contrast between the expected meaning of the word 'natural' and the reality of how these flavors are produced and labeled. Schlosser is essentially critiquing the use of language in marketing and pointing to the figurative language and manipulation of words to create a certain appearance that may not align with reality.

Answer 2

Flavors are literally artificial or synthetic; thus, to call them natural or real is an untruth since the two terms (artificial and natural) are antonyms or opposites. We can often find food products with descriptions or labels like “enhanced with natural flavors.” This is irony in real life; although irony is often associated with and expected to only be applied in poetic or figurative language.