Wise words, most irreverend one.
To emulate you from another post, I'm going to talk about a point that is marginally related to the topic and then expunge upon it at my blog later. ^__^ (Note: Not linking it.)
You say we need to see things from a differing point of view then we would otherwise have. As we transition from childhood to adulthood, our start to take on a singular direction based upon experiences and the loss of "innocence." When we start to regroup based upon like thought, outside of "freak" occurances, people settle into a set pattern and lose a good portion of creativity.
Due to the hive-mind like structure that seems to become increasingly prevalent, how are we to develop new perspectives if the distance between piques groupings seemingly prevents dialogue or a common standing point? Is there a way for people to express themselves to a new system and understand, participate even, the exchange the breached unit is undertaking?
I recall Irreverend Steve once wondering whether knock-knock jokes were universal--that is, whether native speakers of languages other than English (or maybe American English) told knock-knock jokes (Do the Russians teach their children knock-knock jokes too?). Given the hypothesis about the social function of the knock-knock joke, perhaps the question is: do all cultures have a functional equivalent of the knock-knock joke? And maybe, historically, have cultures that inculcate the telling of jokes fared better or worse than those (if any) that don't? (Were the Athenians funnier than the Spartans? Was the West funnier than the Soviets? etc.)
I see a grant proposal in this...
The Athenians were much funnier than the Spartans. Although, there are some historians who credit the Spartans with inventing the knock-knock joke. The original version, I believe went something like this...
Knock-knock.
Who's there?
(Spear through the midsection of person who answered the door and Spartans run away laughing).
The refinements have improved it in my opinion. But it does remind me of a classic line from the Russian comedian Yakov Smirnov who said that he had just been to Las Vegas and must say that he likes our version of roulette much better.
SteveG says:
...then along comes the punchline and the listener realizes that she was really supposed to understand the situation in a completely different way. The humor is in the transition, the time when the listener's brain is forced to try to see the world in two irreconcilable ways.
I say:
Wave-particle duality?
Cheers,
SteveD
SteveD,
Quantum humor, huh? So if we have two people, one in NY and one in LA in front of tv's and we hook them up so that if one is playing "Duck Soup", the other is playing "Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot", but we haven't looked to see which is which, then both will simultaneously be in states of laughing and not laughing.
The Russians don't have knock-knock jokes and I have trouble thinking of equivalents.
I don't think punning is as central to humor in Russian as in English, it's more about witty responses to situations. Usually the joke is in a form of "anekdot", a short humorous story usually involving certain famous Folklore (movie heroes, famous politicians etc.) characters.
I would say that having experienced both the Soviets seem a lot funnier than the West. At least as for as jokes go.
Please accept me as the latest convert to the Church of Comedism. I think I have finally found the 'soulution' to all my problems.
and which niece was this? im assuming not me because i wasn't that young...
=)
DigitalDjigit, I believe you are talking of the quip or bon mot. Meet me behind the cathedral. I think we may have to form a sect.
Here's a knock-knock joke that many adults laugh at because the structure is slightly altered. (It won't work as well written - you'll have to tell it to someone to see the humour in it). Stop me if you've heard this one.
Knock-knock
Who's there
Interrupting cow
Inter... MOO MOO!
(The teller has to interrupt the listener - geez, now I'm explaining the damn thing!)
Oh, the jocularity.
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