Yesterday Jen and I filmed our attempt at a comedy routine/comedic scenario. We had been collaborating on a script for a few weeks, and, though we slightly lauded ourselves for incorporating a few amusing one-liners, we continued to ask each other a central question: "Is this actually going to be funny to anyone else?"
After spending the semester analyzing what elements/theories go into humor, we drew from the critics and Dr. McIntire-Stasburg's lectures to justify our otherwise potentially lame material. My favorite excuse was, "Well, I'm not sure the class will laugh at this, but it is drawing on repetition/incongruity/[insert key term of choice], so it might work..."
I'm not sure, though, if the theoretical justifications did work in this instance. However, we did laugh at ourselves the entire time we were filming--partially because we felt silly (and we kept making references to 8th grade group projects that involved a video camera) and partially because we (and only we) thought the material warranted a laugh. Jen and I attempted to create humor based on what we find funny (and, admittedly, some of it's a bit absurd...though I'll avoid leaking any of the "dynamic" plot details). Still, if we didn't laugh, who would? It was, without sounding too self-critical, obligatory. Our laughter was essentially the laughter of nerves. So, my question is, where does obligatory nervous laughter fit into theories of humor? Perhaps it tends more toward Grawe's notion of survival; though, in this context, it is more the survival of the "comics'" stage presence and less the survival of humanity. On the other hand, maybe, for an afternoon, Jen and I forcefully positioned ourselves as insiders, as "superiors" who could laugh at something that others may not understand? Then again, that theoretical connection is still a bit of a stretch...
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haha, good summary of the final project. You're right- to an extent, it's just a crap shoot. We've looked at different applications of theory throughout the semester, and from my point of view most of them haven't been funny. So while proper utilization of a humor theory helps you hedge your bets, it doesn't guarantee laughter. In the case of this final project, however, we're all in the same boat. We're all struggling to create our own comedic masterpiece (or at least draw a few chuckles), so we can empathize. And empathy never hurts when you're trying to cater to an audience.
ReplyDeleteI think your right to invoke Grawe's theory, and even though it is the comic and not, as you mention, all of humanity, the comic can be a crucial part of that humanity. In this case, you (and Jen) became the creators of this entire alternate universe. If the creators can't survive, there's not much hope for the rest of us, so your laughter becomes essential.
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