Comedy
I heard an interesting quote this week:
I occasionally (very occasionally) have the good feeling of having people laugh at my wisecracks or jokes. I suppose I don't know any timid or insecure people that are funny, but until now, I never really thought of comedy as an aggressive activity.
"Comedy is a basically a very aggressive thing to do - you force people to see things your way so powerfully, they react audibly..."
- Jerry Seinfeld 1987 (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10092407)
I occasionally (very occasionally) have the good feeling of having people laugh at my wisecracks or jokes. I suppose I don't know any timid or insecure people that are funny, but until now, I never really thought of comedy as an aggressive activity.
posted by Vijay Swamidass at
2:25 PM
2 Comments:
Seinfeld's putting quite a postmodern spin on things: there is only "my way of seeing things" and "your way of seeing things," and if I elicit an involuntary response (e.g. laughter) from you then I am merely exerting power over you or controlling ("forcing") you. That sounds a lot like the thinking behind like modern art and debate... there is no truth, only power.
There is a more rational view, though: that comedy reveals objective truth that is somehow surprising, incongruous, ridiculous, etc. (Just as art in the traditional sense reveals objective truth that is somehow beautiful). The laughter that you hear is the sound of someone joyfully celebrating a discovery/recognition of truth, not
necessarily submitting to the sheer power of the teller.
No doubt, many people (including Seinfeld?) use humor as a means of control. I've heard that many if not most really funny people (e.g. "class clowns" and professional comedians) are in fact quite timid, insecure, and even depressed on the inside; for such people, humor is their means of coping and/or hiding.
Is comedy easily aggressive? Sure. But essentially aggressive? Not necessarily.
By
Leeton Lawdoc, At
9:28 PM
Good comments, Leeton. Thanks.
I think Seinfeld was saying whether its a 5 year old or a pro comedian making a joke, they are really trying to convince the hearer that their perspective on things is funny. To put themselves on the line, take a risk, is aggressive. It isn't that they are necessarily motivated by power or control, nor does it always come across that way.
I agree that many funny people are trying to cover up some internal hurts or depression. However, making people laugh is an aggressive response - a way of pushing back.
I think even if there is an objective view, it is still an aggressive (requires initiative, risk, boldness, etc.)move to intentionally try making someone laugh.
Thanks for the thoughts, and I'm sure we can discuss this more.
By
Vijay Swamidass, At
12:58 PM
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