Saturday, March 9, 2019
Ha Ha, Very Funny!
In his 2004 book, Status Anxiety, Alain de Botton argues that the chief aim of humorists is not merely to entertain
but “to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” Because society
allows humorists to say things that other people cannot or will not say, de Botton sees humorists as serving a vital
function in society.
Think about the implications of de Botton’s view of the role of humorists (cartoonists, stand-up comics, satirical
writers, hosts of television programs, etc.). Then write an essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies de Botton’s
claim about the vital role of humorists. Use specific, appropriate evidence to develop your position.
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We have all laughed at jokes that we aren't supposed to laugh at, right? One of those horribly morbid jokes where if taken out of context or put in a different context you would get glares and be ignored. That is what Alain de Bottom means when she states the chief aim of humorists is not merely to entertain but "to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly" in his book Status Anxiety.
ReplyDeleteTake for example George Carlin, one of the most controversial comedians for his time. He would joke about religion, pride, and the attitudes of Americans. In one of his many public shows, he publicly criticized the people who would go to malls that are miles long criticizing them on their size, amount of time spent there, and the amount of products consumed. In this particular show, although my words do not give it justice, it left the crowd roaring with laughter nearly in tears because it's true, but that would change based on the situation. The comedian plays off the crowd, so, if he was to deliver the same comic bit to a group of people in a food court that had just finished shopping the response would be little to nill because it's dangerous to state stuff similar to that in that situation. So, George Carlin during every show would convey a message with impunity that would be dangerous or impossible to state directly.
Another example is the publicly shamed comedian Louis C.K., due to recent allegations of sexual misconduct. A few years prior to these allegations, he told a bit where he was comparing raising boys to raising little girls. Normally, this would be fine, but he started off the bit with "boys are hard to raise... but girls are f*cked up" and continued on to mention examples from his sister raising boys and himself raising a little girl. This also lead to the audience nearly being in tears due to his comic bit because he was also playing off of the audience and the bits had gone well up until that point. However, if the audience was filled with no one other than parents with their children the response would not have been the same, he would have just gotten glares because he is publicly criticizing their children. Similar to George Carlin, Louis C.K. also conveyed a message that would be dangerous or impossible to state directly.
DeleteOne example from my life is when Bruce Cahilly told me the story of the ride home from a math competition in eighth grade. He had warmed up his audience with minor jokes that were non-offensive, but as the car ride went on they started getting more and more offensive. This eventually lead to him telling the joke, "Do you guys know who the fastest readers are?... September 11th victims, they went through ninety stories in a few seconds," this joke made every student in the van begin to laugh. However, the teacher was not impressed and threatened to give him a detention if he continued because she vividly remembered the actions that happened on September 11th. He was telling jokes that would be near impossible to convey to a person who had seen the twin towers go down and the actions that happened following it, exactly what Alain de Botton argues.
Although not every comic explicitly "conveys with impunity a message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly," it is true that in some instances it is needed. Take for example George Carlin's joke, what the audience took from his show is that we live within a consumer based society and we are merely mind washed into buying, eating, and spending time at malls. In Louis C.K.'s case, he ended up conveying a message that boys physically fight temporarily, but women use emotions to manipulate people and that's why they're "f*cked up," which is why the audience cracked up because in some instances it is true. In Bruce's case, he conveyed a message, although morbidly, that brought a form of joy out of such an awful event which has helped to decrease tensions. All of these people used their comic style in order to convey a message that brought about good things or life lessons, reality, joy, and a decrease in tensions.
I liked how you started off your blog this week, it was a good grabber and caused me to want to continue reading. I also liked how you gave examples of humorists that are not respected. Great job!
DeleteVery important point, the teacher was laughing with us, she only said that because that was also part joke and part her replying to me that some of those jokes were getting a little to much for school.
DeleteFurthermore on what Bruce said, it was really clear that he wasn't saying them in a disrespectful way. He was telling them as jokes. We all knew that he wasn't serious and that is the point of jokes. While it was easier for us to laugh since we din't live through the tragedy, we still knew that it was a tragedy and respected that.
DeleteThough I think the joke was funny, I can see way it could be construed as disrespectful. We are the first generation born after 9/11, and we don’t really understand what it was like to be there on that horrible day. Obviously we know Bruce, and know that he means no real harm.
DeleteAlain de Botton argues that the chief aim of humorists is not merely to entertain but “to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” To this extent, de Botton sees humorists as serving a vital function in society. I am a fan of outlets of humor, such as comedy shows, as much as the next person- especially shows like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. However, I find de Botton’s claim to be only partially true. Humorists, such as comedians, do highlight and effectively speak about the more controversial parts of the world, but all too often, the power of humor is abused and serious topics are made out to be just another comedy line.
ReplyDeleteOne prime example of a comedian gone too far is Chelsea Handler. In my opinion, Chelsea Handler takes a rather offensive approach to her humor. She talks about a wide range of topics, including politics. Her show takes the discussion of politics in America to a whole new level. Her show typically starts out as humorous, but quickly escalates until the jokes are too far out of control. Chelsea Handler does touch on some points such as political corruptness, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say her sense of humor severs a vital function in society. Chelsea Handler does convey messages that are be impossible to state directly, but her methods of doing so end up offending a lot of people. In addition to this, I believe that the audience also plays a part in the escalation of the jokes. Comedians feed off of the audience’s reaction. If the audience likes one type of humor, that’s what the comedian will give them.
However, de Botton’s statement does hold some truth in regards to other comedians who seek to reveal the simple truth through their humor. Using politics again, Sarah Silverman is a great example of this. Sarah Silverman has a show called “America, I Love You.” The goal of the show is to evaluate different political views and controversies that Sarah Silverman experiences after she discusses politics over dinner while visiting a variety of households across the country. Sarah Silverman weaves elements of humor into her show while showing the audience what exactly is going on in America. In my opinion, Sarah Silverman is a comedian whose humor does agree with de Botton’s statement- she conveys messages with impunity that might be impossible to state directly. Her views have shed light on society and certainly have had an effect on the masses, whether they agree with her or not.
In short, Alain de Botton’s statement can only be applied to a select number of humorists. It all depends on their individual sense of humor and how they execute the ideas. There is a fine line between being offensive and simply stating messages that could face a lot of backlash if said directly. Humorists are widely liked for the obvious, and they have a lot of power to influence the mind of the audience. How they choose to use this power, however, determines their function in society.
I enjoyed how you clearly stated examples proving why you believe he is partially wrong. I liked how you did not completely say he was wrong, but rather said his statement can only be applied to a select number of humorist. Well done!
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DeleteAlthough we do not see eye to eye, I can see where you're coming from Sophie. However, although some humor may be offensive to you or someone else and therefore you don't see it as a "vital part to society" others do, otherwise it wouldn't be broadcasted and the comedian wouldn't have an audience. I do not believe it is the comedians intention to bring about sophistic ideas, I believe their main intention is to bring about happiness and joy even in the sense where the joke is morbid, but people still laugh. I also want to critique you on your sentences, to me they're directly to the point and brief. For example, you could transform one of your sentences to say "Using politics again, Sarah Silverman is a great example of a supporter of Botton's hypothesis in her show 'America I Love You', a show where she evaluates the consensus of society on political points of view."
DeleteI have the same point of view as you regarding this; specifically that there is a line of offensiveness that not all humorists cross. You did a great job thoroughly explaining the difference. Great job!
DeleteHumorists are able to say things that other people cannot because, with the use of humor, they are able to make an unpleasant subject, sound agreeable to an audience. De Botton claims that humorists perform in order to not only entertain their audiences, but also express messages that may be dangerous to directly say. It is hard to say no to someone while laughing. These messages help to increase the awareness of certain issues in society, hoping to change the ways of society. They also criticize the authority, such as the government. However, people do not accidentally do wrong, but rather knowingly do it. This is an example of why messages from humorist may be dangerous to say directly. Comics may include making fun of social issues, usually including sexuality or politics which as everyone knows are sensitive topics to talk about in public. While criticizing they are funny and make their performance enjoyable. Humor reduces the tension between the speakers or writers and their audiences who object their ideas or opinions, making it an important aspect in literature and society.
ReplyDeleteHumorists being able to exclaim messages that may seem dangerous to state directly can also be a disadvantage. Being funny may result in it being harder for the audiences to take them seriously. However, when thinking about it, who else can present sensitive topics in the public and be effective? If nobody wants to talk about the problems,then how is it possible to solve them?
The seriousness of a presentation of an authorial figure will attract people's attention to the topic but may also cause objection. For example, the government has been having trouble discussing homosexuality, where as humorists can easily joke around with this topic. Humorists are less likely to offend their audiences.
Personally, I enjoy the works of humorists and believe without them the world would never face their problems. Over time, I realized that the reason why we find humorists funny is because many of their works are about reality. Usually they are funny because they relate to people's personal experiences, so the audience can relate to them. All forms of humorists serve one purpose, to not only entertain their audiences, but also bring awareness to our societies.
I love your point about homosexuality. Also, maybe watch your commas, although I may be wrong.
DeleteI think your blog is very well written. I like how you asked the audience who else can present sensitive topics to the public and be effective, except humorists. That’s a good point! Nice!
DeleteI really enjoyed this! I like how you noted that humorists are really just telling the reality of things. If I could give any advice, I would suggest making a more concrete conclusion. Once again, well done!
DeleteYour inclusion of homosexuality was a great example since humorists do talk of such sexual preferences just to get people to laugh. Humor definitely eases any tension between a speaker and it’s audience if there are any varying opinions. Your points were great & I agree with your thoughts on humor’s ability to bring awareness to the people of society.
DeleteAlain de Botton’s book Status Anxiety focuses on a core part of society that is slowly being broken down day after day. Humor is something that is designed to bring a little light to the darkness and to also bring people together for a short time. There are varying forms of comedy, dark humor, dad jokes, anti jokes and the classic knock knock joke, but they are all designed to do one thing, amuse us. The best jokes will have us clutching our sides and even the small jokes will at least have us push air out of our noses just a little bit faster. However, there are people who wish to end all of this “offensive humor”. This stems from a few places, but mostly from a sense of insecurity or unsuredness. The main culprit of this censoring is the left (different from democrats, much more radical). The left for years has tried and sometimes succeeded in shutting down comedians for making jokes that they don’t like because it mocks their ideology. Now, the beauty of jokes is their ability to take both parties involved back for a moment and look a the situation from a new perspective. Unfortunately, the left absolutely abhors this because their ideology is built on a multitude of lies and fallacies. This is not to say they are always wrong, just most of the time. Regardless, the left is doing their best to shut down all comedy they deem inappropriate and this is a violation of human rights and common ethics. One major example of this is the shutdown of the very popular show Last Man Standing, simply because if featured a well off rich white guy who was a republican and he mocked the left. ABC was quick to stop airing it because it has just enough ideals to be aligned with the left. There are dozens of other examples, but the main takeaway is this; don’t let some radical ideology control the flow of speech.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I agree with all of your points Bruce, I think you ended up getting off topic with the censorship coming from the far-left. Reading it over again, at least from my perspective, you actually wrote an Aristotelian Argument that got side tracked by censorship in your refutatio. If I was to write an essay of a similar style I would have focused more on the benefits to society (not saying you didn't have points as to how it benefits society, but you didn't focus on them as much as you should have).
DeleteI thought it was interesting how you used the “left” and the “right”. It was by far a different way to portray your points. Good job.
DeleteYour introduction especially stuck out to me on this! I feel like it was very well-written and included just enough background to get the ball rolling. If I could make an any suggestion, I would say to elaborate further on the role of humorists, as I would have liked to hear your thoughts on that. Once again, well done!
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ReplyDeleteIt seems as if whenever someone is sad, someone tries to say something funny to make that person laugh. That’s the beauty of a joke. Which is exactly what most cartoonists, stand-up comics, hosts of television shows, etc. all aim to do, make your day brighter. Sometimes, however, these jokes can be racial, rude, or overall not something that should be said. Yet, other times, jokes are so funny you have tears running down your face. However, there is another side of jokes then to entertain a person. This is the perspective that Alain de Botton took in his 2004 book, Status Anxiety. He argues that jokes are not only to entertain someone but, to convey a message that may be hard to state directly. This in fact, does make sense. An example of this would be when politicians use humor to portray whom they are campaigning against. This unfortunately happens so often, yet it does relay a message to the audience. Therefore, the people pay more attention to their campaign, being able to see their views. Which was oddly, exactly what the person wanted. Like Alain de Bottom said, humorists do play a vital function in society. They bring a little light to the dark, make serious, meaningful points in a not so serious manner, and entertain the people of society to keep happiness in the society. It’s important that we do not lose this sense of humor in our society or else it’s possible everything will begin to break. It’s important we have humor to have happiness.
I like the way you wrote this and I think that your sentence "They bring a little light to the dark, make serious, meaningful points in a not so serious manner, and entertain the people of society to keep happiness in the society" is a perfect way to describe humor. It is a necessary thing to have in a free society and you told that message very well. I would've liked to see a more specific example for the political point but I can see you not wanting to bring one up. Still very good.
DeleteLauryn, I enjoyed reading your blog and how you brought up your points. I think more examples could have better helped your case, but the log was still good nonetheless.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog again, and I am glad that you were able to include the part in the begging about the tears streaming down one’s face. I also liked the part when you said that some jokes may be offensive, but it does relay the message to the audience.
DeleteEveryone has been in a conversation in which an awkward or controversial point was brought up. Tip toeing around the conversation to not bring in any other issues, but also stating personal thoughts. One way to avoid this is through humor. A joke about the issue or even a simple chuckle at the end of a statement can soften the mood. No one wants to turn the conversation into a fist fight, but their is a time and place for jokes.
ReplyDeleteIn Alain de Botton’s book, Status Anxiety, talks about the use of jokes in speech and says they are used, “to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” The joke puts a different tone to the conversation and allows controversial issues to be discussed in a fun and peaceful manner. However, some jokes are better to not be added to the conversation. Someone would not want be having a conversation with a war veteran about life during war times; then add a joke that might offend the veteran. For someone who did no live in this might find the joke amusing, but for someone who did, would probably bring more issues to the conversation than it helped.
Jokes make for a good conversational points to break up the severity of a conversation. In Status Anxiety, Alain De Botton stated many good uses for jokes and how they should be used. However, sometimes jokes are better left not said. Everything in life does not need to be taken seriously. Through a joke in every once in a while to lighten up the mood.
I like that you started off by introducing a situation everyone can relate to. I know that for me, it had a bigger impact on the way I processed it. I think you should use this method again in the future! Nice job!
DeleteHumor is a very important part of life, without it how boring would our lives be? Jokes and humor are used not only to bring up touchy subjects, but also as a coping mechanism to awkwardness and denial. The progressiveness of humor can be compared to a previous blog about disobedience. Both of these techniques are used to step out of the status quo and bring about awareness and attention for specific issues. In fact, it can be said humor is also a form of disobedience. Bringing up taboo topics and laughing about that can most certainly be seen as disobeying a greater authority. This just shows the impact and usefulness that humor can have on people. An example of this effect is the tragic euthanizatiom of the Cincinnati Zoo’s gorilla, Harambe. The incident was of course very tragic, but still wouldn’t have received the attention it did without humor. Memes and other sayings surrounding the Cincinnati gorilla brought loads of media attention and trending tweets for the accident. The mood when speaking about Harambe was always lighter after being drenched in internet’s sense of humor. Without humorists this event likely wouldn’t have stayed in the news more than a week, nor would the details be so widely known. Humorists have a very important role in this world and it’s their job to whip it out for Harambe.
ReplyDeleteI think you did very good getting a nice concise point across here. And I especially like your mentioning of how humor can be used as a coping mechanism for some, this really shows the importance of it. I reckon you couldv'e expanded more on the subject, but other than that, you did very well.
DeleteAs I was reading your blog, I was agreeing with everything you were saying. Comedy is such an important part of this world. Also, your use of Harambe was really funny!
DeleteThe question at the beginning really caught my attention. The example of Harambe points exactly to what Botton argues as the aim for humorists. The diction you used also spiced up the writing a lot. Keep up the good work!
DeleteAlain de Botton makes an interesting claim in which he believes that the goal of humorists is not solely entertainment, but rather “to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” Public humor is certainly an outlet for humorists to exploit the subjects that most people would rather stay silent about, or are too afraid to do otherwise. Through means of political cartoons, hosting television programs and et cetera, comedians try to make light of many controversial subjects and even poke fun of several authority figures. I do agree that a vital aspect of humorists is to shed light on the controversial topics, however they often cross the line of what is considered humorous and what is “too far.”
ReplyDeleteSome humorists thrive off of their use of their inappropriate humor. Comedians do not become successful because of their compassion towards people. Their fame grows because of their insulting demeanor. For example, Daniel Tosh does not hold back during his Comedy Central series Tosh.0 or spontaneous stand-up appearances. He has no fear of ridiculing extremely important issues. He often finds humor in not-so-humorous topics such as people’s appearances, dead babies and rape. People who come to defend him, and Tosh included, believe that people are being too dramatic and overly sensitive. His controversial jokes certainly give him the attention he wanted, even if it is not positive attention.
Humorists like Daniel Tosh often get away with crossing the humorous line because they are far less likely to offend an audience, as compared to an authority figure like government officials. However, not all humorists need to cross the line in order to be appreciated for the their humor. Many comedians can address topics they have an issue with without being outrageous. The perfect example could be political cartoons. Alain de Botton’s claim speaks several levels of truth, especially regarding political cartoons. Such cartoons can address social issues that many people can relate to while remaining within ethical boundaries.
Explicit humor depends on the comedian and how they convey their ideas. Humor can be an extremely beneficial stress-reliever. Not all humor has to be over-the-line, and according to de Botton, controversial jokes are at the core of humor.
I agree with your thoughts on humor, Carly. While watching Tosh.0, Daniel Tosh has made some statements that can be extremely uncomfortable to hear. I think that humor is great when used lightly and has no bad intentions, but when it is used to an extent that it “too far” it is no longer funny and can possibly turn into a heated discussion. I like your point about remaining within ethical boundaries and I think that is what is most important when joking around or staying something humorous about a societal issue.
DeleteDaniel Tosh can go a bit to far sometimes. I like how you said that there is a boundary with things such as rape and dead babies. Humorists should not talk about these things, but Daniel Tosh seems to have no boundaries when it comes to his jokes.
DeleteIn his 2004 book, Status Anxiety, Alain de Botton, a philosophical writer, argues that the chief aim of humorist is not merely to entertain but "to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly." Further, because society allows, humorists --including cartoonists, stand-up comics, satirical writers, hosts of television programs, etc -- to say things that other people cannot say or will not say, de Botton sees humorists as serving a vital function in society. Humorists are able to say things that other people cannot say or will not say because, with humor, they are able to make an unpleasant subject, or critic sound agreeable.
ReplyDeleteAccording to de Botton, performances of humorists do not only aim to entertain their audiences, they also convey with nonliability messages that might be questionable or absurd to state directly. These messages are often attempted to bring up people's awareness of certain issues in the society in order to "correct" the society. Such messages may involve critics of authority figures such as organizational leaders, the government, politics or important public figures. However, people learn right from wrong at a very young age and definitely know the difference by the time they start making jokes and comments about certain societal issues. Therefore, these messages may be dangerous to state directly. For instance, stand-up comedians often make fun of social issues, usually about sexual matters, politics, alcohol, and racial matters which are typically viewed as sensitive topics to talk about out in the open or in public. Yet, comedians are able to get away from openly stating their opinions about these topics because it is their task to make people laugh. Humor acts to alleviate the possible tension between the speaker or author and their various audiences. Being funny definitely allows people to say what others might not be able to do, however it might also make it harder for the audiences to take humorists seriously.
Certain topics that are related to the society, especially those that are concerning blatant social issues that nobody wants to discuss about, are used widely by humorists. The purpose of the messages given by humorists are to "correct" the society. However, such seriousness may also cause intense objections. Such seriousness could include talk of race, nationality, age, gender, sexual preference, political parties, etc. To some extent, the jokes will stop being funny if abused or used in obscure ways. For example, the Holocaust has been joked about and in all actuality, there was nothing humorous about that situation in any type of way. Such jokes include the mass genocide of the Jews and the torture they suffered. Humor is great, but it is definitely not a vital part of every past, present, or future social issue. The abuse of humor could lead to conflict and cause more issues than originally intended.
Dom, what a terrible blog!...Not! I really like this and I love how you talked about the stand-up comedians. It is a dream job, to make people laugh for money. I also enjoyed how you talked about the negative side of it because people don’t always think about it that way.
DeleteDom, I really enjoyed your blog. I believe we share similar views on the topic. Humorists are important, but they have to know what “crosses the line.”
DeleteIn his 2004 book, Alain de Botton introduces ideas of humorists into the minds of many. Outside of their primary purpose to entertain, in his book “Status Anxiety,” de Botton claims that humorists play a vital part in society as they are often given a pass on saying offensive things. Taking part in such humor is like walking on a tightrope, one wrong move could lead to a fall.
ReplyDeleteHumorists have a way of turning many things that society finds uncomfortable to say into comedy. Often times, humorists are able to address the elephant in the room with ease, and release tension among people. They have an incredible talent with words, and can address situations with a light-heart. In this way, they serve a necessary part in society by stating the reality of a situation in a unique way.
With humor having such a prominent role in society, there are inevitably people who take it too far. To some, it doesn’t take much to be offended by certain humor that relates to politics, culture, etc., while others have looser definitions of “too far.” For example, President Trump tweeted at the end of 2017 a statement that acknowledged the record low temperatures: “perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old global warming.” Many people were rightly disturbed by this comment. Citizens were offended to hear their own President disrespecting an international issue, as they believe he should be held to a higher standard than that, and rightly so. If a comedian of some sort made the same exact comment, perhaps it would have been viewed differently by certain people. However, many comedians are known to push their boundaries as well. A notorious example for this would be Kathy Griffin. She posed in a gory photo holding a replica of President Trump’s head. While politics is a common theme in the world of comedy, it does have boundaries. Kathy Griffin lost her job and took a serious dent to her reputation that she may never recover from.
Although many people push the boundaries of comedy too far, it still holds a special part in society. It can be refreshing in the light of serious situations in politics, and hopefully remind people that there are more important things in life. Everyone needs a laugh, or even a grin at times, because life is short. Humorists help to bring people back to reality in this way.
Your last paragraph was a perfect description of this situation, couldn’t have said it better myself.
DeleteAlain de Botton made a very good point, and I would like to add to it that when humor is used in a way that may be offensive or improper, it can be hilarious, but it can also be offensive to some people. I believe that humor is a great device to tell stories and messages, but I think that some people tend to overreact or miss the joke. As someone else mentioned, some radicals can take jokes out of their place and turn them into issues. I think it is important that people understand the joke and don’t take it to mean more than intended. The point is to entertain, not to actually be offensive.
ReplyDeleteI’m writing a book, it’s called pop goes the hamster and other fun microwave games. This is an example of a joke that I’ve heard over the years and I found this joke hilarious and I didn’t take it to heart. Obviously, it was not promoting that one should microwave animals. That would be crazy. But a joke such as that could come off as insensitive to a different audience. Don’t blame the teller, it is a joke. It is not meant to be insensitive. It is meant to pass the time with a laugh. One should not get mad over words when they are clearly a joke.
However, this is what is being challenged in today’s world. People are getting offended over nothing and the joke tellers are getting punished for it. This is compromising the freedom of speech that we all are entitled to. I actually think this a big problem. I will compare it to feminism. At its core, feminism, the equal rights for men and women is a great thing, however, some feminists can take it to an extreme that is quite degrading to men. This just shows a line where good things can turn bad.
De Botton really did have a good and timeless point. I’ve heard countless jokes about political leaders or other countries. And I normally find them funny and not too controversial. I think this is chiefly because I don’t try to take them seriously. I understand that a joke is a joke, and that it is something that enables people to point out things that aren’t so accepted to flat out say. And I think it is really important that others consider this view, because it is a bit of a problem that people overreact and blame people for harmless jokes. And I would absolutely hate to see jokes become unaccepted because someone decided they didn’t like it.
Okay “pop goes the hamster and other fun microwave games” is an absolutely hilarious title for a book. Can we be the test audience? I think that was a good story to put in your essay and it brought pathos into it. Good job!
DeleteMaya Angelou once said, “Laugh as much as possible, always laugh. It's the sweetest thing one can do for oneself & one's fellow human beings.” this statement simply could not get any more true. For a moment, actually think about how much of your typical day consists of laughter. I can say this with all honestly, I believe I spend most of my day smiling or laughing. Another quote from a very popular Elk County man can also relate to this discussion. Elk County Catholic Crusader basketball coach and school Athletic Director, Mr. Aaron Straub, is well known by his teammates for saying that “In this world there are energy givers and energy takers. The world needs more energy givers. Be an energy giver, not an energy taker.” Energy takers are those people who always have that sort of negative energy about them. The type of people who put others down simple because they are down. Nobody wants to be around an energy taker. On the other hand, everyone should want to be around an energy giver. Energy givers are those who constantly are smiling and laughing, socializing, and having a good time. When they are doing this, it makes everyone else want to be like this, and energy is then shared. The world truly does need more energy givers. That being said, Alain De Botton’s claim that humor is a necessity is very accurate. He also claimed that controversial jokes are at the center of humor, and should be used as an effective humorous strategy. This is also very true. One of the worst parts about society today is that people have no idea how to take a joke. Another problem is that all of these controversial topics are so serious that there is plenty of added tension that is unnecessary. However, comedy is there to be the mediator and peacemaker. Sometimes, the best way to make a situation easier is to crack a good joke. Yes, these serious situations can lead to some pretty raunchy jokes, but these jokes make the situation seem less serious which is what is needed. Actually, less serious isn’t the correct term. The reason being that these topics SHOULD be taken very seriously, but a joke can be necessary to suppress the tension. Many comedic geniuses such as Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, and Pete Davidson have crossed the line a few times. However, in the end those jokes are seen as strictly comedy. If people were to just relax and enjoy these comedy acts, they would actually get a kick of the situation. These acts only improve the status of these serious situations. Long live comedy!
ReplyDeleteBryce Great way to open your blog with a quote. It really grabbed my attention and made me want to comment on your blog. I loved your list of comic geniuses it gave good examples and made it nice to have a picture to put in your head with them but you forgot one, Me!
DeleteAuthor of Status Anxiety, Alain de Botton, explained his position on the chief aim of humorists, not solely for the purpose of entertainment, but also “to convey with impunity messages that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” Humorists have always been people who push ‘touchy’ or controversial topics to an extreme; and they usually benefit from them, too. Many different people fit the role of humorist: cartoonists, stand-up comics, television shows. Anyone can tell a joke, right? However, where is the line before a small joke can be take too far or out of context? Are humorists really serving as a vital function in society?
ReplyDeleteThe episode “Football, Feminism, and You” from the comedy series Community fits under the category well. In the episode, two characters were attempting to come up with a new mascot for their community college because the previous one was considered racist. Through many hours of going back and forth, even going so far as to create a color wheel ranging “from Seal to Seal’s teeth” and charts full of racial traits to avoid, the two decided to go with a completely white figure that they named The Human Being. Another character, upon seeing all that had gone into the creation of their new politically correct mascot, comments that perhaps their attempt to not be perceived as racist is “the new racist”. Through this episode it shows how we try to hide racism by denying people their inherently valuable differences.
Bo Burnham is a perfect example of a humorist. He is on stage an extrovert that loves telling jokes and taking in people’s attention. However, off stage he is an introvert that battles with anxiety and depression. Through being onstage, he can express to people his feelings about being in the lime light, in a sort of meta-critical commentary on the toll his career has taken on his personal life. The endings to all three of his comedy specials (Words, Words, Words; what.; and Make Happy) contain some specific reference to the relationship between art, artist, and audience. At the end of what., Bo Burnham has a segment that repeats “We think we know you.” This is a commentary of how we, as the audience, try to build a relationship with a persona on stage. We write hate on the internet to try to pretend that we know them or get their attention but really we do not know their personal life.
Kathy Griffin and Michelle Wolfe, however, both are prime examples of failed attempts at humor as societal or political commentary. Kathy Griffin tried to be funny and posted a photo with the head of our President, Donald J. Trump. It sparked controversy that ended with Kathy Griffin giving an apology and not being allowed to be on Fox for bringing in the New Year. Also, Michelle Wolf was given the opportunity to perform at the Correspondents Dinner at the White House. She ended her sketch with “and Flint still doesn’t have clean water.” Comedy can be a great thing for relating to us our current societal and political state; however, it must be understood that comedy is simply a tool. Comedy does not suddenly confer value to a message. There can be those who use comedy to good effect, and there are those who simply cannot. Not all comedy is capable of the commentary of humorism, and sometimes, comedy can be taken too far.
Humor can help brighten the mood, however, it is important to know the place and if it would be acceptable. Of course it is always important to be mindful; keeping your eyes closed is not good either. The jobs comedians do are important. As Micheal Scott commented on in The Office, “There are certain topics that are off-limits to comedians: JFK, AIDS, the Holocaust. The Lincoln Assassination just recently became funny. I need to see this play like I need a hole in the head. And I hope to someday live in a world where a person could tell a hilarious AIDS joke. It's one of my dreams.”
I think your blog was very well done. I liked how many examples you used and how detailed you were in some parts.
DeleteIn 2004 it may have been more acceptable to say more things as a humorist as it is now, however as we forward to the present time it is no longer acceptable for humorists to say and do many things. In today’s world, when a person says a joke, they often call it racist, homophobic or just plain ignorant. When saying a joke of any nature you have to be careful, if you say something bad you will often be attacked on social media. For example, Kathy Griffin was a well known comedian, who lost her career over a joke. She was holding a bloody Donald Trump mask during a comedy skit to be funny, the implication was later she lost her job for it. Donald Trump ruined her career. Another example is of Virginia governor Ralph Northam, who is under fire for doing a black face dance of Micheal Jackson in 1984 when he was in college. He is being called a racist, and is under fire with social media. This act was 37 years ago and just now is he being under fire. Family Guy, which is a very well known TV show has been criticized multiple times for racist comments, they have survived lawsuits for telling jokes people deem inappropriate, they recently stated they are going to limit the jokes people will find offensive. Personally I love hearing edgy jokes that others may not like, I am able to find the humor in these jokes it will often bring a smile to my day when things may not be going so well. Unfortunately people have become more sensitive and want things all equal, and they don’t understand a joke is for humor and to make light of certain circumstances.
ReplyDeleteIn today’s society it seems impossible to find a good joke that no one will find offensive. You provided a lot of good examples of real life situations. With social media, it no longer matters who your direct audience is, because eventually, in some way, anything reaches the public.
DeleteFor many people among the world humor is everything. A simple joke can do wonders. For example, a joke can be a a great way to cheer someone up, get out of an awkward situation, and could even be the way your parents met. Alain de Botton Says humor is not for just entertainment but it is “to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” It is almost unfair sometimes that humorists can use jokes to talk about some unspeakable things and get away with it. In Mr. de Botton’s book he talks about multiple ways people can use jokes. It talks how a joke can bring people together and start common interest and besides who doesn’t like a good laugh? Without laughter the world wouldn’t even go around and that is one huge reason for humor, joy. Joy is everything in life and it is what God wants for us. Another way we use jokes is to avoid awkward or serious matters. If a person throws a joke out there it might get them off topic, inevitably avoiding the subject. Humor is definitely something that can be mastered but it is not easy. In fact I’m sure everyone knows someone who is not good at it. This is where a key part of humor comes in, the nervous laugh. Everyone has one and everyone uses it for the people who have not yet mastered this task. Humor is and always will be a great way to get the attention of people, get a point across, or even just to start a conversation. We all love jokes unless they are about our moms.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good case for the reason of humor. The idea that humor brings joy, and that is what God desires for us was great support for your claim.
DeleteBen, I really enjoyed reading your blog this weekend amd the conclusion was a great way to wrap it up. I agree with many of your points, and you made great examples support de Botton.
DeleteBenny, I love the points in this. I do agree that God wants us to experience joy in life. I also liked the flow of this paper. The concluding sentence was my favorite part because it is definitely true. This was one of my favorite blogs that I have seen you write.
DeleteAccording to Alain de Botton, the main job of the humorist is to “convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” Basically humorists use their comedy to try and spread a message that can be tackled in any other medium. In, my option this is a true statement. There are some topics that are so difficult to deal with, that humor is the only way to make sense of it.
ReplyDeleteIn my research for my body donation paper, I found many testimonies from people working in the death care industry. Many of these people have what is called “gallows humor”. Basically that is having a very dark and sarcastic sense of humor as a result of working in their industry. The death care industry involves dealing with tragic and violent deaths, grieving families, and the mountains of paperwork that goes with it all. Their dark sense of humor helps the workers process it all, and cope with what they’re dealing with. Humor, in that instance is the only way they can deal with their daily lives.
Mel Brooks is a famous comedian known for his shocking form of humor. One of his most famous works is the musical comedy, The Producers, in which two producers create a terrible Broadway show about Hitler in order to steal the backing money. Audiences were aghast to see a musical number of Nazis dancing, while an extremely feminine Hitler belts out a tune. However, Brooks used to scene, and the whole show for a special purpose: to make fun of Hitler and rob the Nazis of their legacy. Mel Brooks is a Jewish Man, and a WWII veteran who served in Germany. By portraying the Nazis as silly fools, he robbed them of their legacy as strong, powerful leaders, and dissuaded others from following their actions. By using humor, Mel Brooks was able to convey his powerful message in way that wouldn’t have worked anyway else.
Stephen Colbert, has also used humor to get a serious message across, through his powers of satire. Before he hosted “The Late Show” he hosted “The Colbert Report”, which made fun of modern day news networks and their personalities. He acted as a parody, in order to show how unreliable these programs are to dissuade viewers from watching them. If he had treated this issue seriously, people would have not have listened to him and thought that he was scolding them. But, he used humor, which let the audience figure it out themselves.
In short, I agree with de Botton’s comment. Humor is a way to convey certain messages that would have not worked in any other way.
You did a good job relating this to your research paper, and found some good examples of peoples who used comedy in a different way, such as Mel Brooks.
DeleteHumor is very important to society and humans. We need something to laugh at to keep us same. Whether it be laughing someone falling, or seeing someone doing something stupid and get what they deserve, or satire, it is usually all good. Humor is needed in daily life also to get awkward or touchy subjects out. It's very effective at doing this and it's important that we see humor as a mode of communication. Humor can help get rid of tension between two people if they start roasting each other to get feelings out, or to make people likable that otherwise would be an outcast in cliques.
ReplyDeletePeople have become less attracted to humor and satire, as it has become dangerous to even joke around with people nowadays. You could be offending someone and you don't know it until they start yelling at you. If you think joking around is bad, wait until you try to use satire. Good luck with that in today's world. It seems not a lot of people can take a joke in today's world, unless they have a privilege to make a joke. There is a difference between making a joke and offended someone, but that line has been so skewed in today's world its very hard to distinguish them, if there even is a line anymore. Because of this, some comedians are calling out other comedians about making jokes about touchy subjects, like with a black comedian starts making a joke about black people, it's taken out of context by others. Then those critics will be hypocrites and make fun of something that is easy to attack, and is socially accepted to attack. It's especially bad with people of opposite races and genders. It's almost like a war. But if we don't get these feelings out between races and genders, well tensions are just going to build up and explode one day. Humor is important to do this, and we, as a people, should be more accepting to comedy, even if it making fun of you. Usually it's the case of their laughing with you, and not at you. It's okay to laugh at yourself, your ego can take a hit once and a while. People need to laugh at themselves more, because the you get into problems like we have today, where everyone hates each other, but doesn't say it to their faces.
Anfrony, this is a really good blog with a lot of good points. I like how you brought up the specific example of race. Good job!
DeleteThe example of race is a good one to support de Botton.
DeleteLife without humor is a rainbow without color; it cannot and should not be. In relation to this, life with humor is life where the truth can be told as it actually is. Alain de Bottom, a Swiss-born British philosopher and author, argues that humorist not only have the aim of entertaining, but also the goal “to convey with impunity messages that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” Because of their ability to address a serious or alarming message in a seemingly funny, nonthreatening manner, humorists certainly play a vital role in communicating information to the public.
ReplyDeleteBecause they are well listened to for their puns, jokes, and shenanigans, humorists also become some of the most popular outlets for attaining information concerning societal issues, recent scandals, dangerous criminals, riots, and more. People often pay most attention to what they enjoy, and what they enjoy is happiness and entertainment. This makes comedians, cartoonists, and other humorists who bring smiles to their audiences the most vital candidates for revealing the truth. One satirical street artist in particular nicknamed Banksy is especially talented at spreading messages and revealing different truths. In one of his most famous works, he spray painted an image of a masked man throwing a bouquet of flowers in place of a Molotov cocktail. In this image, he was promoting peace over the growing violence. Because of their ability to captivate an audience, humorists have a crucial role that goes far beyond what many can imagine.
In countries like the United States where freedom of speech is permitted, humorists such as Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel have the right to state their opinions and their stances on controversial topics without fear of punishment. On one of his late night shows, Jimmy Kimmel confronted President Donald Trump for senselessly shutting down the government and preventing many government workers from receiving pay. He also called Trump’s proposed border security a “magical, Mexican-proof wall.” Statements like these are what people often dare not say, especially when in front of a camera broadcasting to thousands, if not millions, of people. Humorists, like Jimmy Kimmel, dare to say what others are afraid, which makes them key figures in society.
Because they can convey important information concerning society and the issues within it, humorists have a crucial role in communicating news. Alain de Bottom was certainly correct in his argument stating the aim of a humorist. Humorists are incredible people who not only add color to the lives of many, but also reveal the truth.
I love the way your blog started and ended with the same theme of color! You had lost of evidence to back up your claims. This was well written and thought out.
DeleteRegis, you did an amazing job on this weeks blog. You used great examples within your blog. I really enjoyed your introduction, it was well put together. I also enjoyed how you related back to the truth. I did not find any real issues with your blog. Excellent job, keep up the good work.
DeleteWithout humor, life would be boring. According to the famous author Mark Twain, humor is mankind’s greatest blessing. Alain de Botton, the author of the 2004 novel Status Anxiety said, the main point of humorists is not only to entertain but “to convert with impunity messages that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” We all have been put into awkward situations where we have been asked a strange question or we are hanging out with a person we barely know, and the first thing most of us would do is to crack a joke or even whisper “awkward silence” like many of us would do when we were younger. Moving to the people that make a living off of humor, they often do skits or crack jokes that lighten the mood about certain societal issues. Saturday Night Live, the television show on NBC at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday nights, creates some of the most controversial skits and segments, but most get great reviews and applauded because of the use of humor in them. For example, back in November, the weekend before the midterm elections, Pete Davidson was on the show making fun of many of the candidates running for office. And back in 2009, actors were seen as Tiger Woods and his girlfriend, and pretending to talk about his alleged sexual and domestic abuse scandal on the show. The skits and segments were made to bring light to very serious situation, in which most cases they did, but also received very much criticism. But without the criticism, would many people may not have seen as funny as they did. Sometimes, comedy may go a little over board and push limits that some people may have, which causes many people to become offended. Without it, though, our society would be boring and conversations could possibly become heated and could end in violence. Joking around with our friends and laughs make us who we are, and sometimes someone’s laugh may be even funnier than the joke itself.
ReplyDeleteEllie this is really good! I like how you brought up a quote from Mark Twain, and also the mentioning of SNL was really cool too! Good job!
DeleteThe concept of humor is centered around a person or thing creating an amusing observation or thought that produces laughter and entertainment to an audience. In the book titled Status Anxiety by Alain de Botton, the author hypothesizes that the role of humor in society is to bring out repressed thoughts and messages that ordinary people can relate and understand without restraint from other people. I believe that de Botton's stance towards humor having an essential role in the function of society is true, because humor does allow people to freely express and relate to messages and observations without the restraints of society on them, but also gives people more awareness of the presence of wrongs and ills in a society by making the observation surrounding them more easier to understand, through the usage of comical and amusing entertainment.
ReplyDeleteIn comedy, humor is used to convey messages that might be taken as too serious or controversial and adds humor to facilitate easier comprehension and understanding. De Botton makes a clear argument in stating that the role of humorists is not merely to show entertainment, but to "convey with impunity messages that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly." In this, de Botton argues that comedy can be used as a channel to secretly communicate thoughts or observations of society and other things that might be held as offensive by some if made publicly in a serious or formal way. One example of how a humorist practices such role is how stand-up comedian Katt Williams makes jokes based recreational drug use. In one of his better stand-up comedy acts, Williams mentions how recreational marijuana use can affect and alter one's life and mindset in a positive direction if taken under the correct circumstances. He later argues of how marijuana is not a chemically-synthesized drug, but a natural herb stemmed from the cannabis plant, making it a natural substance. Many people applauded and enjoyed Williams perspective of recreational marijuana use not only because of the joking methods of which he had presented the discussion, but because most of the audience had some sort of relation to what he was presenting. Comedians are allowed to speak their mind and be honest on their own opinions, whereas people who work in other professions such as a doctor, school teacher, or a police officer, are not allowed to freely express these thoughts so openly, because it is not appropriate to do so, and that is why people enjoy comedy. It is the fact that through comedy, they will have the ability to relate certain thoughts that they have long repressed, because of society, to the material of humor and laugh at its presence as a form of expression.
This is really good, Stephen! I like your examples about Kat Williams her jokes about drugs. I learned a lot from your blog this week.
DeleteGood job for using Kat Williams as an example of de Botton’s argument.
DeleteThere’s something about laughter that makes the world go around. It always seems to life the spirits of others no matter the mood that they are in. Without this laughter, the world would just be gray and boring. It is the center of society. The people who create this laughter are known as humorists. Humorists can be people such as cartoonists, stand-up comics, satirical writers, hosts of television programs. I agree with Alain de Botton, they do serve a vital function in society.
ReplyDeleteAnother point that Botton makes is that they don’t just entertain people, but they convey a message in a way that could otherwise be hard to say. Some people take offense to this type of humor, but it is just a way to lighten the mood. No offense if usually ever intended while making these jokes, and that is the key behind Botton’s claim. In addition, obviously all people are different and the way that they put their form of humor out there varies upon person to person, signifying that you cannot blame one person for their point of view.
Laughter is the best medicine, and that is a point that cannot be argued. Humorists are, in fact, a very important part of today’s world whether people agree with them or not.
Maddie, I enjoyed your blog very much. I think it was well written. I also liked how you explained what a humorist is. However, it would be nice if you added specific examples. It could have allowed the reader to understand your points more. Overall, I agreed with what you said. Good job.
DeleteI liked how you brought up the statement, “laughter is the best medicine” because it is something we have all heard. I do have to agree with Grace on that I wished you used an example but aside from that, very well done.
DeleteCharlie Chaplin once said, “a day without laughter is a day wasted.” Most known for his silent films, Charlie Chaplin was an English comic actor. It was not thorough jokes that he made people laugh but rather through actions. However, even his actions could be interpreted different ways, those ways being either happy or sad. I think Charlie Chaplin and his silent films tie directly into Alain de Botton‘s book, Status Anxiety. He believes that the “chief aim of humorists is not merely to entertain but to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” I definitely agree with this. Mainly everything has a hidden message, comedy included. Even Charlie Chaplin’s silent films. “Modern Times” was released in 1938 and was a huge hit. It was very future based and had everyone looking forward to what was to come all while maintaining its comedic element and making people laugh. However when you really look at that film you notice some other things. There is a disconnect and the one person that is thinking of the present keeps getting lost. He is searching for what little humanity is left because there is so much machinery “building the future.” This could easily be a metaphor for anything, such as the events unfolding thus far in 2019. Through all humorists we can find another message, we just have to look a little harder.
ReplyDeleteYour mentioning of interpretation was ingenious. I had never thought about comedy that way before. Also, Charlie Chaplin was a perfect figure to use for this blog.
DeleteWithout laughter, the world would be boring and bland. Humor is what keeps the world turning. However, recently, comedians and other adults who specialize in humor have been under fire by the media and public for being too harsh. Alain de Botton, the author of “Status Anxiety,” argues that humor needs a little bit of rude or harsh comments. Botton is correct in his statement because humans naturally laugh at someone else’s pain.
ReplyDeleteWorld famous ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is a prime example of comedians who are successful by being harsh. Jeff has ventriloquist dummies who represent the stereotypes of different ethnicities and races. His dummies consist of José the Jalepeño, Bubba J, Sweet Daddy D, Peanut, Walter, Achmed the Terrorist, and Seamus the Baby. José is Mexican, Bubba J is from the southern states, Sweet Daddy D is African American, Peanut is a purple monkey, Walter is an old man, Achmed is Middle Eastern, and Seamus is Irish. The dummies represent the extreme side of the stereotypes and can be seen as extremely racist, especially Achmed the Terrorist. Jeff Dunham has even had shows in the Middle East and has brought along Achmed. The odd part is, is that the crowd loves him. The crowd adored Achmed and was not offended by any of his jokes. Jeff Dunham has been a ventriloquist for roughly 20 years and is one of the most successful in his field. Jeff Dunham supports de Botton’s argument that satire is necessary for humor.
I liked your example but I thought that you could have had more evidence to support Botton’s claim.
DeleteEnglish actor Peter Ustinov once said, “Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.” Ustinov uses comedy as the water to help his audience swallow the hard pill of reality. In Alain de Botton’s book, Status Anxiety, Alain de Botton argues that the main goal of humorists is not only to entertain but rather, “to convey with impunity message that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly.” Due to the fact that society lets humorists say things that other people cannot or will not say, de Botton sees humorists as serving a very important role in society, as they can deliver a message that otherwise cannot be translated to society. If the humorist has the intention to convey a message, they can have the ability to do so with enough skill. Comedy duo Key and Peele, for example, serve as something of a case study in humorist behavior and artistry. Throughout their joint careers, they have crafted an intricate societal commentary on such topics as politics, American culture, the “black experience”, and their intersections.
ReplyDeleteIn the topic of American culture, Key and Peele touch on the topic of fraternities. According to the media, fraternities are seen as a bunch of people who throw parties and do stupid things in college. Key and Peele show how the media views these groups in their YouTube video labeled “Fraternity Branding.” In their skit, Key and Peele make fun of college fraternities through the usage of the media’s common portrayal of recklessness. In this video, the two are portrayed as fraternity brothers who are branding themselves with the Greek letters of their fraternity. It shows what fraternities have evolved into and the subliminal message of this fact.
Key and Peele also developed a skit on YouTube known as “Black Republicans.” The video shows a bunch of black republicans holding a meeting together. Multiple people from the meeting go up to the front of the group and give the exact same speech that they are essentially all defensive and confused by their lack of appeal as well as against the idea that they are a monolith. One of the members says, “Democrats may be cool, but they ain’t practical. Republicans are practical. Black people are practical!” At the end of the skit, someone comes in and says that someone’s white wife is there to pick them up and they all get up to check.
Humorists such as Key and Peele use their talents to portray how they feel on matters going on in society and how the world has evolved. They talk about things that are relatable so that people can almost laugh at themselves and what they think of society.
Emily I like your essay and how you used examples and specific people in your essay. I'm going to have to look at some of the people mentioned!!
DeleteAlian de Botton may argue that the role of humorists is to convey messages that might be dangerous, although this is undeniably true for so,e humorists, there is also a large portion of humorists who would disagree with Botton because not all humorists display inappropriate hidden messages within their humor. For those who do choose to include serious topics within their humor, the influence of their messages dramatically decline, resulting in them being prevented from serving a vital role in society. Humorists are often compared to comedians. Comedians are more known for entertaining and sometimes offending their audiences rather than spreading important messages. However, laughing releases positive neurochemicals in our body that make us feel happy. Therefore comedians help us to put various things into perspective and create a much needed pause for some comic relief. With that said, I will that comedians are not exactly vital to society, but comedy itself is. In fact, I would go so far as to call comedy an art. Comedy is tricky and it is the humorists or comedians who decide if they will pursue their talents in exchange for materialistic objects such as money or if they whole heartily just want to make people laugh and enjoy themselves. Those who are in it for the fame are more likely to create humor that is offensive or derogatory. While those who’s sole purpose is to make others laugh, they are the people who prove to play vital roles in society.
ReplyDeleteAlthough there were no specific examples, I liked how you mentioned comedy being an art. I do not think that Botton was saying that humorists showed subliminal messages that were “inappropriate.” I think it was more like things that are taboo to talk about in society.
DeleteMady, I like how you encorporated the medical ideas of humor and laughing and how they affect you. I would like a specific example of people though
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