ironic distanciation

is a postmodern tendency to unload emotions to quotations (i.e. 'As the poets would have put it, I love you') that otherwise would be too direct and immediate.

the postmodern need for the permanent use of the devices of ironic distantiation (quotation marks, etc.) betrays the underlying fear that, without these devices, belief would be direct and immediate as if, if I were to say 'I love you' instead of the ironic 'As the poets would have put it, I love you,' this would entail a directly assumed belief that I love you that is, as if a distance is not already operative in the direct statement 'I love you' . . . ' (Zizek 2003 6-7)

ironic distanciation, n.All

ironic distanciation