With a ruthless literary assault on
almost anything you may expect Dawn Of The Dumb to
be a rather
pointless series of rants by the Guardian writer Charlie
Brooker from
his columns in the paper. Yet you would have assumed wrong as this
fantastically hilarious collection of
articles written by Brooker
seethes away with critical bitterness that would put even the
sharpest tongued of people to shame. Published as a collection of
articles in 2007 the actual articles date back from November 2004 to
July 2007 broken in to 12 individual chapters based around TV shows
and other writing on a vast array of subjects (split pretty evenly
into TV for 50% and other subjects for 50% of the book).
In
recent years Brooker has started appearing on TV with shows like
Screenwipe, Gameswipe and Newswipe on BBC4 all following in the same
sort of vein as the viciousness of the book. Despite the almost
rant-like tone Brooker portrays (in both the TV shows and his
writing) it never becomes a swear-a-thon as many rants seem to,
infact they are often incredibly clever rants full of graphically
interesting descriptions and an agreeable tone laced with copious
amounts of humour to soften the anger of the articles.
Due to
the fact many of the columns were written quite a while back so many
of the TV ones feel rather dated, especially the ones one reality TV
shows that now are difficult to remember such as Big Brother from
2004 for example was a theme in the book that lead to several columns
in the book, the views of Brooker changing with each successive one.
The same applies to the ones on things like X factor as at the time
of the columns he was writing the TV segment of the Guardian
newspaper and often got to advise what was worth watching. It's fun
to read these writings to see how things were on TV just a few years
ago (it would seem they were just as poor are they are now, yes,
almost 5 years later on TV is still diabolically poor on the
whole).
The none TV based articles are just as fun though
usually completely pointless rants about anything ranging from how
having a cold “proves” that God cannot possible exist, to the
usefulness of a suicide button that we should all be born with, even
political policy's are mentioned (a way to cut out Smoking
nationally). Even a rant about a study on Penis sizes finds it's way
into the book as Brooker lets loose with an hilariously put together
rant on the Sun newspaper's reporting style.
A compellingly addictive read from
start to end that's wonderfully written with a dark humour
underlining everything about it. The fact the book can be written in
small chunks of an article a time (usually around 1 ½ A5 pages) as
well as the much more lengthier chapters, it will almost certainly
keep you captivated throughout the whole thing. Possibly even having
you re-read it again after you've been through the entire anger once
feeling that once just isn't enough to fill you with enough of
Brooker's vile temper.
Although some may find the
pointlessness of it all rather off putting whilst others will find
the wide ranging targets of defenceless victims rather unfair and
offensive it's not aimed at those easily offended. If you have a
sense of humour, can accept a well worded insult and won't take
things to heart too much you will really enjoy the vile tongued anger
of Brooker. Of course if you'd rather avoid anger in your life and
live like some sort of a hippy who just wants peace and live in the
middle of nowhere then you should avoid this, as of course, it may
raise your blood pressure to that of Brooker himself. Yes if you are
easily offended stay away, despite the cleverly worded insults, a few
naughty words do slip into the book throughout as well so it perhaps
should be avoided for you lot.
Of course a lot of it is just the
writers opinion, but that's one of the appealing factors, he almost
seems like he's been given free reign to write what he wants, often
seeming like it's uncensored and he's been allowed to really let
lose, something most writers aren't allowed in the national press
where agendas are to be followed. This is a prime example of how to
write rants like they were supposed to be written with out them
becoming diatribes that veer off into anarchy of written anger with
no point at all to them. Brooker whilst his themes often seem
uncorrelated does tend to keep to the same target for a full rant,
and is exquisite at thinking of the right insult every time.
Overall a brilliant book show casing the best in sharp
tongued rants and the most wondrous TV reviews available. Ian Hyland
(the Suns TV writer) could only dream of having half the originality
of Brooker, and sadly none of the other TV writers seem to even make
a note worthy effort to match the bar Brooker was setting years ago.