 Comedy: October 16, 2019 Issue [#9813] |
This week: International Comedy Edited by: Robert Waltz  
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Honest good humor is the oil and wine of a merry meeting, and there is no jovial companionship equal to that where the jokes are rather small and laughter abundant.
-Washington Irving
Most jokes state a bitter truth.
-Larry Gelbart
Don't be getting sloppy drunk and telling them dirty jokes.
-Mr. T |
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A friend of mine sent me the following article, and it got me thinking.
https://theconversation.com/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-national-sense-of-humour-...
Thinking, for me, can be a dangerous pastime. For example, I'm convinced that the answer to any question posed in a headline is "no." And this essay has the following headline:
Is there such a thing as a national sense of humour?
To which the answer is, per my theory, "no." Which is true for the US, because we don't have a sense of "humour." We dropped those extraneous "u" letters long ago.
But, okay, probably we have a national sense of humor.
Most humour, and certainly humour that involves greater cognitive effort, is deeply embedded in language and culture. It relies on a shared language or set of culturally based constructs to function. Puns and idioms are obvious examples.
This strikes me as another way of phrasing "know your audience," which is basically Comedy 101. Just as I wouldn't tell engineering jokes at a knitting conference, I wouldn't have much luck making a joke about urban blight in Gary, Indiana to a gathering of, say, Armenians, even if they know English. Oh, some will probably get the reference, but I wouldn't count on it.
Reference jokes are important for cultural bonding. It's a big thing in geek culture to be able to pop up with a Star Wars or other science fiction or fantasy story joke. Sometimes you end up feeling like Captain America in the first Avengers movie: "I understood that reference!" (See what I did there?)
There are many overarching themes that can be used to define a nation’s humour. A nation that laughs together is one that can show it has a strong allegiance between its citizens.
Even better if they can get together and laugh at another country, like the US does with Brexit. Or like the UK does with American politics.
For example, the French tend to enjoy a joke about the Belgians while Swedes make fun of Norwegians. Indeed, most nations have a preferred country that serves as a traditional butt of their jokes.
And New York likes to poke fun at New Jersey, and Virginia likes to make jokes about our eponymous neighbor to the west. Which is actually more to the northwest, thus proving that West Virginians are bad at geography, too.
For example, most people in the UK know that the popular phrase “don’t mention the war” refers to a Fawlty Towers sketch... Similarly, knowledge of “I Love Lucy” or quotes from Seinfeld create affiliation among many in the US...
Actually, here in the US, at least in the circles I frequent, it's imperative to be able to make Monty Python references, thus contradicting the idea that humor is exclusively national. Most of my friends find any excuse to quote from Holy Grail or Life of Brian. "Fetchez la vache!" And I wouldn't know an I Love Lucy reference if it smacked me in the face.
Still, as the article touches on, there are universals, because there are things all of us humans have in common regardless of nationality. Mostly eating, sleeping, and... certain other bodily functions. It's been reported that the oldest known joke, written down about 10,000 years ago in Sumeria, was... a fart joke.
But come on, folks, we're better than that... right? ...Right?
Anyway, I'd like to know if people have tried their hand at international comedy. Let me know in the comment box below. |
Some funnies for your bones:
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Last time, in "Loser" , I talked about some of the downsides of weight loss.
Quick-Quill  : I've been on both sides. I was over 300# and finally had my stomach stapled. While I never reached the goal weight (145-155) What I found out was after that initial weight loss, I changed. I gained confidence. People spoke to me complimented me. I stepped out and talked to people as an equal. I complimented people in the grocery line or when I saw someone that looked like they needed one. I changed. I love talking to people so the weight loss gave me a step in that direction. Now, I weigh a little less than I did when I married (194) however it amazes me that I'm not that person. I don't look at myself as a FAT person. I'm happy with myself. If I lose more, I'll be even happier. If I don't, I am who I am. That was the surprise to me. (I'm doing Keto/Atkins) I don't care how long it takes me to lose weight. I have a pile of clothes I can't wear any more. I smile when I see them. I watch the scales and go up a few pounds now and then and back down. It doesn't change ME.
I think you are still looking at that FAT person. Get OUT of those clothes. Put on something that makes you FEEL good about how you look. You would not believe what I wore. I'm ashamed at how overtly sexy I dressed after I lost that weight. It was how I felt.  I was getting attention from men around work who usually were just "nice" to me. Get your game on. Go shopping and see what you look like in clothes that give you confidence. It's there, you just have to embrace it.
Thanks for the encouragement. It is true that I'm looking rather hot these days. Part of my daily (well, almost daily) workout routine is weight training. Not my first rodeo with that, but lemme tell you, I'm starting to look cut. I'm even working on trading in my keg on a six-pack. Which reminds me of another downside of weight loss: lower tolerance. Where I used to be able to have a beer without feeling it, now it's like one beer and the Uber app comes out.
Sophurky  : Congrats on your weight loss, you big loser! I am pretty sure I found some of your lost weight - let me know if you want it back. I'm very happy to return it!  Seriously - well done!
Regarding pants: I call them the "left leg" and the "right leg." You could call them trouser sleeves - no, nevermind ...
Anyway, I'm very sorry losing weight sucked away all your joy with the pounds. Fortunately it doesn't seem to have effected your sense of humor, so perhaps knowing you make others laugh might add some of that joy back! 
It's rare that something affects my sense of humor. A few years ago, I was lying in a hospital bed on my birthday, recovering from a heart attack, and cracking jokes that were unappreciated by the various doctors, nurses, lawyers, clergy, and undertakers in attendance.
Jakrebs  : Robert, there are many things I could say to this editorial piece but I want to keep it simple, for emphasis.
This was very, very funny. In just this short amount of prose you made me laugh a lot.
I you ever have doubts that you can be funny in print, don't.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
So that's it for me for October - see you next month! Until then,
LAUGH ON!!! |
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