Or perhaps it's the same urge that prompts some of us to make "dad jokes" to the apparently unappreciative. There may be some resistance from the woke vanguard, but some people are still snickering inside.
Maybe this will give context: https://althouse.blogspot.com/2019/09/how-do-you-watch-fleabag.html
I was thinking how much of modern comedy has deteriorated into recitation of political pieties, making fun of the right people and shocking the right people, but not being actually funny.
I read that post but since I'd never heard of Fleabag, I didn't get it. As for making fun of/shocking the right people... that's been going on since All in the Family. That's when I noticed it anyway.
Perhaps my sense of humor never grew up. I've been known to quote "Airplane".
@ Grim - yes. There are a group of people who go to comedies who aren't interested in humor but in having their opinions validated. As that is a bottomless pit, there isn't much point in making movies for them. Yet film producers do, because they have the same goal of validating as a form of entertainment.
Choosing comedy is not a manipulation of their audience, but a way of disguising their motives to themselves.
When analyzing All in the Family, it's useful to remember that despite the best efforts of Norman Lear and Carroll O'Connor Archie was still the most popular and well-liked character on the show, and Rob Reiner was (and still is) a meathead.
I think AVI's point is that the current crop of 'comedy' writers are making darn sure that error doesn't happen again.
Or perhaps it's the same urge that prompts some of us to make "dad jokes" to the apparently unappreciative.
ReplyDeleteThere may be some resistance from the woke vanguard, but some people are still snickering inside.
You're going to have to spell it out for me. What is to learn?
ReplyDeleteAnd start from the beginning because I laughed at something from Captain Underpants last week.
Maybe this will give context: https://althouse.blogspot.com/2019/09/how-do-you-watch-fleabag.html
ReplyDeleteI was thinking how much of modern comedy has deteriorated into recitation of political pieties, making fun of the right people and shocking the right people, but not being actually funny.
I read that post but since I'd never heard of Fleabag, I didn't get it. As for making fun of/shocking the right people... that's been going on since All in the Family. That's when I noticed it anyway.
ReplyDeletePerhaps my sense of humor never grew up. I've been known to quote "Airplane".
“Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe.”
ReplyDelete@ Grim - yes. There are a group of people who go to comedies who aren't interested in humor but in having their opinions validated. As that is a bottomless pit, there isn't much point in making movies for them. Yet film producers do, because they have the same goal of validating as a form of entertainment.
ReplyDeleteChoosing comedy is not a manipulation of their audience, but a way of disguising their motives to themselves.
There's an audience for humor, but every individual has a different trigger for what's funny to them.
ReplyDeleteWhat's not to like about "Airplane!"?
ReplyDeleteLooks like I picked the wrong week to understand comedy.
ReplyDeleteWhen analyzing All in the Family, it's useful to remember that despite the best efforts of Norman Lear and Carroll O'Connor Archie was still the most popular and well-liked character on the show, and Rob Reiner was (and still is) a meathead.
ReplyDeleteI think AVI's point is that the current crop of 'comedy' writers are making darn sure that error doesn't happen again.