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01/14/2008
Uses of humour
The Telegraph produced a rather curious article today
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinio...
The idea of using ridicule and humour as a defense mechanism for times of conflct is not uncommon. Neither, if you think about it, is to use comedy as an attack and a weapon.
How many people do you know who, when faced with insult or trouble, treat the entire thing as one large joke? Looking around (particularly in England with the "Thou shalt not take thyself seriously (under ANY cirucmstances)" rule) it is easy to see how many people sit behind their comfoting wall of irony, sarcasm, wit and sattire as they move steadily from day to day. Even the worst traumas can be overcome with a few jokes and a laugh - at least to the people watching and that is all that really matters. Appearances are kept up and life kept going by daily injections of stand-up comedy.
Equally, how often so you see ridicule being used to bully and oppress people either in the playground (if you are at school), or the office (if you are at work) or in a family (if you are ... well...)? So often the person with the most power is the one who can simply make everyone else look weaker, and what better way to do this than by comedy, humour and "all in the name of fun". I have seen children cry over direct insult for hours, I have seen children fall utterly silent over ridicule for weeks, months and years.
I am not trying to say use of humour is good or bad or safe or harmful. There is no way it can be caegorised so easily. It is however potent. It can hurt, it can heal, it can make people change how they think and how they act. It is a weapon... how can we use it? How should we use it? Where would it be most effective? Where is it most needed at the moment.
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10:57 Posted in News , Politics , Thoughts | Permalink | Email this