Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[BookStop]

Thank you, Procrastinator

 

[No One]

That's a cracker Hoopy. Me like!

Nice play on two themes.

 

[Parson]

What is there about this theme that seems to lend itself to so much more humor than otherwise? Is it perhaps all those dark themed "Trick or Treat" stories needing to find a physic balance?

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Not sure I agree there Parson.

There was plenty of humour last month, although as most of the entries concerned trick or treating, it was a bit darker.

 

[Precise Calibre]

Hoopy and Bookstop have gained my interest for right now. Good show!

 

[HareBrain]

A laugh and a shudder in two very different new entries. Both really good.

Hoopy's reminds me of when I first got contact lenses and a friend asked: "What happens if one slides round the back of your eye and severs the optic nerve?"

 

[Allanon]

A couple of good ones from Hoopy and Mouse there!

 

[Parson]

Not sure I agree there Parson.

There was plenty of humour last month, although as most of the entries concerned trick or treating, it was a bit darker.

I am not at all sure that I agree that dark humor is humor at all. If it doesn't lift the spirits and bring a smile to the face for me it is not humor at all. Humor is one of God's gifts to humanity, and it comes in many forms light, witty, slap stick, droll, sarcastic, but not sure I can add dark to this list.

 

[Precise Calibre]

At this point, however, one must defer to the old saying, "To each his own".

For me, personally, a lot of things can make me laugh and even lift my spirits. This extends from the usual witty, slapstick, sarcastic etc. all the way to things well beyond the realm of satire. In fact I'd have to say that my favourite type of humor arises from the area of satire if not worse.

When I think of "dark humor", it makes me think of things which might be tragic or unfortunate, but has been addressed in such a way as to either poke fun at misfortune or perhaps "call out" the follies of those involved in a satirical manner. It does take a certain person to appreciate this of course; it's not for everyone.

When I say that I laugh at funerals, it's not an exaggeration.

 

[Susan Boulton]

Dark, or black, or gallows humour, is and was a favourite of men serving in the armed forces.

A good example is the Wipers Times a newspaper produced during WWI by the 12th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham & Derbyshire Regiment), 24th Division British Armies in France. It was also satirical in the style of "Private Eye" or "The Onion"

 

[mosaix]

At this point, however, one must defer to the old saying, "To each his own".

Agreed. And let's not forget that this is fiction. Although I take SJAB's point. Sometimes the reality of a situation can be so grim that it's laughable.

 

[Ursa major]

I'd agree to some extent with Parson in that my definition of humour** is something that makes me (want to) laugh, or at least brings a smile to my face. For me, though, this includes some (very) dark humour and some use of bad langauge***.



** - For me, that is. I realise that some things make others laugh that I don't find in the least bit funny. (A lot of Radio Four comedy comes into this category. I have to assume it's humorous to the "live audience" if only because I'd otherwise believe they're drunk or have partaken of some substance or other.)

*** - I can't say I find the simple (in more than one sense of the word) insertion of profanity at all funny on its own; however, if word play happens to include a "rude" word, I would find it humorous - if at all - in the same way as I would a pun that doesn't include one.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

When I say that I laugh at funerals, it's not an exaggeration.

We used to get some very strange looks at funerals in my family. It was the only chance we ever had for a family reunion, so when everybody got together it was silly because it had been so long since we'd seen each other and we're all weirdos to begin with.

A joke that went around in my family (and we all remembered it at funerals, of course, and got more funny looks for laughing) was about a preacher who began the eulogy with "What you see before you, folks, is just a shell. The nut is gone."

 

[chrispenycate]

I have to assume it's humorous to the "live audience" if only because I'd otherwise believe they're drunk or have partaken of some substance or other.

One of my 'sampling musical instruments' contains some banks which consist entirely of audience reactions; laughter, applause, indrawn breath et cetera, et ruddy cetera.

Apparently, during the filming of American sitcoms, they have a guy with a cue script playing these effects, partly (I suppose) to replace the live audience, but mainly to replace the "laugh" panel shoved up in front of them to tell them when something is funny. Probably because, with the kind of person who would apply for a seat in a sitcom audience, you can't be confident he can read a long word like "laugh".

It wouldn't surprise me at all to discover the same technique is now used in Great Britain.

And yes, I had considered developing an alternative bank with effects like "giant raspberry" and "audience leaving seats and making towards the exit (three speeds).

 

[Parson]

I realise that some things make others laugh that I don't find in the least bit funny.

Exactly what I was trying to say, and obviously not communicating as well as I should have. Although much of American humor today revolves around what I would call "put down" humor, which I understand to be someone being made to look silly, especially because of their looks or social position, I don't find funny in the least. What is funny about someone who is trying hard and can't quite measure up to the accepted standard?

I suppose I should also mention dirty jokes. I do find them funny, but I am trying to teach myself not to laugh at them, because they are always so demeaning.

 

[digs]

Humor is one of God's gifts to humanity, and it comes in many forms light, witty, slap stick, droll, sarcastic, but not sure I can add dark to this list.

Couldn't you say that dark humour is also one of these gifts? It allows us to process and consider issues that we might otherwise find too confronting. Dark humour is just as capable of making people laugh or smile as other forms - I laughed at the premise of A Modest Proposal just because it's so ridiculous.

Or were you just saying dark humour doesn't make you laugh, and therefore you personally don't count it as humour?

P.S. Are there any Christian writings about this kind of thing? It'd be interesting to see what's off-limits or not. The Bible's full of dark things - but is it okay to joke about them?

 

[beadchaser]

America's funniest home videos often featured people attempting some stunt, and then failing miserably. While the studio audience laughed, I found myself cringing, knowing that these folks probably suffered some sort of injury that likely led to some permanent damage.

 

[J Riff]

No matter how twisted or dark the humour in here gets, it will never approach canadian television advertising for disturbing and weird. I'm watching now and it's making me queesy ...(*)urp excuse me ...have to lie down..

Mouse(who I've never voted for)- another good one. Love the first line, and very sad...emotional stuff... it ...(goes and lies down)

 

[Moonbat]

On a recent visit to Venice we were told about a Martyr who was burned, and as a joke he said 'I'm done on that side, better turn me over' It was considered wrong as (apparantly) there is no humour in the bible.
Also there was some mention of a Sean Connery film where he discusses the lack of humour in the Christian faith, the tour guide told us that Jesus never laughed. Obviously they didn't have you've been framed Judea back then, and I bet he never got to see the life of Brian.

 

[J-WO]

The film in question is The Name of the Rose if anyone's interested. Easily one of Connery's best. Real sense of place to it too-- heartily recommend it to any fantasy writer trying to evoke a dark medieval feel.