A present state of affairs is denied and justified at the same time, with the denial and the defence held together.
Anton's formulation, and the title of his 2021 catalogue. He distinguishes it from merited impossibility by tense: that pattern denies a future consequence, this one denies a present fact while simultaneously defending it. The contradiction is only apparent when both statements are set beside each other, which is why it survives in commentary that moves quickly.
In practice
- A department states there is no backlog and explains that the backlog reflects unprecedented demand.
- A spokesman says no such policy exists and that the policy is working as intended.
- Possible explanations
- The proposed explanation is audience separation: the denial is addressed to those who would object and the justification to those who approve, and neither audience is expected to hear both.
- In its favour
- Holding a denial and a defence together is a recognisable rhetorical move, and the pattern connects to work on doublespeak and on audience-specific messaging.
- Against it
- It is a polemical formulation about political opponents rather than a measured finding, and the two halves usually come from different speakers, which makes the contradiction a feature of a coalition rather than of a person.
- Standing
- A polemical formulation about political opponents rather than a measured finding. It is the sharpest of Anton's seven because the contradiction is visible from the text alone, without needing any claim about motive.
- Subject
- Communication & Media
- Essay
- Theories of what stands between an event and its audience