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October, 2013

  1. Funny Fruit/Falling post #1

    October 25, 2013 by Kathryn Lodwick (KEL5344)

    Today’s blog post is a first look at my next few blogs where I will be writing about how fruit and falling are portrayed in comedy. In this specific post I’m going to elaborate on the history of the slipping on a banana peel joke.

     

    Public Hazard.

    In the mid-19th century banana peels posed a serious public hazard, considering there was no public sanitation in major cities. –In other words, when people were done eating their beloved fruit, they simply tossed the peel wherever they were walking (sidewalk, street etc.) which caused a rather large problem for those walking post banana peel tosser. And although not too many a person actually slipped on a peel, it was considered extremely rude to toss a peel on the sidewalk.

    Nowadays it’s rather rare that one sees a banana peel laying on the sidewalk, however, the fear of slipping on one seems to be forever ingrained in the minds of most Americans. In contrast slipping on a banana peel was not thought of as something comical until the 20th century. Just like stand-up comedy, the act of the banana peel regarded as comedic originated from the Vaudeville stage. “Sliding” Billy Watson is said to have been the inventor of the “joke”,–he had simply seen a man grappling to keep his balance after having stepped on a peel, –and this had inspired him. In 1903, Cal Stewart (a Vaudeville comedian) told banana peel related jokes. The actual stunt soon appeared in the silent film The Flirt. In spite of the fact it mainly appeared on silent films in the early years, it soon transitioned to more modern films as the film industry popularized and evolved. The quip even appeared in Woody Allen’s film Sleeper.

    Nowadays the banana peel stunt is still regarded as funny, but an older form of comedy.

     

    Scientific Proof.

    But one question that is constantly brought up is if it really is possible to slip on a banana peel, or is it all really just an act that spiraled into something more?

    Here’s the answer:

    Most bananas reach their prime slipperiness after several days, even weeks of rotting. Nonetheless, anything from a barely ripe peeled banana to an almost black peel have been used in the joke. But this does not make the joke’s punchline per se, accurate.

    In 2009 Mythbusters (of Discovery Channel) tested the banana slipperiness theory and concluded (after many tedious and comical experiments) that in fact, a regular (not rotten) banana peel is not slippery…or at least slippery enough for someone to slip on violently like portrayed in the stunts. Nevertheless, if there are several banana peels covering the surface of whatever the person is walking on, the surface is indeed slippery, and a person is able to slip on the peel/s. But considering it had to be several peels, the fact that one could slip on one, non-rotten peel was disproved.

    Other than slipping on banana peels, what precisely makes falling in general (whether it be from slipping on an object, tripping on the stairs or even just losing your balance) so appealing and amusing to the public? No one enjoys falling down themselves, but when seeing someone else take a tumble, there is an uproar of laughter. I will write about the study of this in my next post and leave you thinking of ideas as to why people falling is so funny.

     

    In the meantime, here is my all-time favorite falling person video.

    Charlotte Takes A Tumble: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WseaZO2UGAY

     

     

     

     

    Sources:

    Youtube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WseaZO2UGAY

    Mental Floss.com:http://mentalfloss.com/article/31135/how-did-slipping-banana-peel-become-comedy-staple

    Last Word On Nothing.com:http://www.lastwordonnothing.com/2013/02/26/fallingisfunny/

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 5 Comments

  2. There’s more to “HAHAHA” than you think.

    October 17, 2013 by Kathryn Lodwick (KEL5344)

    First of all, what is laughter, and why do we laugh?

    Most people laugh when something is funny or when they’re happy, while some individuals laugh to cope with an uncomfortable or confusing situation. But whether you’re laughing at a joke, or because you’re embarrassed, it’s an involuntary action and everyone does it.

     

    Laughing as an action is part of human psychology, biology and society. There is no specific gender, ethnicity, nor country that laughs, simply every human being laughs at some point in their life. The causes of laughter are both social and biological. The body’s reaction to particular emotions can be laughing, crying or really anything, and sometimes a person can react differently to the same thing. The main reason people laugh is because they’re reacting to something socially related. Many people for example, purposely laugh to fit into a certain group of people, it’s used as a tool to seem more approachable. A socially acceptable action. And then there’s always that girl back in high school that laughed at everything a guy would say because she liked him/wanted him to think she was interested, whether she was or not.

    There are also specific natural elements that can cause laughter in humans, laughing gas (nitrous oxide) and mirth have been found to cause the giggles. And although people can inhibit the action as a reaction to specific social situations, for example purposely laughing at a joke even though you don’t find it funny, most laughter occurs involuntarily, unconsciously. Although scientists and doctors have yet to find specific muscle contractions, chemicals, and brain mechanisms that cause laughter, there is evidence that it can benefit a person’s health and well-being, by not only helping with lowering blood pressure, but boost the immune system, triggers the release of endorphins, lowers anxiety and helps circulation which can help prevent against heart attacks and other cardiovascular related problems.

    There are also specific “Laughing Classes” that are exactly what they are called. A class to learn how to laugh. Since laughter has been proven to release hormones and stress, professionals who already make a living by helping people relax (like yoga teachers, masseuses, counselors and even personal trainers) research the health benefits of laughter then conduct specific classes for the sake of either distressing or even working out. Yes, you read that correctly, laughing is a workout all in itself since you’re contracting muscles. In fact you can have a pretty successful ab workout by just laughing. Doctors and psychologists have also found that laughter is regulated by the brain to help the person cope with social interactions (which explains how/why people laugh at both funny and not so funny things).  So sometimes accidental things really can be helpful!

     

    However, laughter isn’t a just thing for only adults let alone only humans. In fact, most people laugh for the first time when they’ve reached 4 months old, and this is just as important as a baby’s first smile when it comes to human behavioral development.

    Even animals have been known to display laughter like actions, such as panting when being tickled.

     

     

    Below I’ve listed a few synonyms for “laughter/laughing/laugh”:

    Chuckle,

    Giggle,

    Chortle,

    Yukking it up,

    Guffaw,

    Cackle,

    Snicker,

    Titter,

    Snigger,

    Howl,

    Cachinnate,

    Crack up,

    Split one’s sides,

    Joshing.

     

     

    Sources:

    Wikepedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughter

    Psychology Today:http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/laughter

    Helpguide.org: http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm

    Laughter Yoga University:http://www.laughteryoga.org/english

    Care2.com:http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-health-benefits-of-laughter.html

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 4 Comments

  3. Sexism in humor post #1:Why are penis jokes funny?

    October 11, 2013 by Kathryn Lodwick (KEL5344)

    Penis jokes, or the more commonly used (and rather vulgar) term “dick jokes” are made on a daily basis by comedians and the like. Your friends make them, that guy named Sam down the hall makes them, when your grandmother makes one it’s pretty awkward, and you’ve probably cracked a few. But what makes jokes about male genitalia so funny? -And funny enough for them to pretty much be a modern day fad?

    When you think about it, it’s rather sexist that both men and women make jokes about men’s’ “parts” more than they do about women’s’, and personally, I’ve yet to find a specific reason as to why there are more jokes about men than women regarding this subject.

    But here’s my theory: The conclusion in which I have come to is that the reason people are more comfortable making “dick jokes” is that in general, society talks about and is foremost more comfortable talking about male genitalia VS. female genitalia. The reason for this is because throughout history and even in today’s world, most people are if not less familiar with female anatomy, but less curious about it. There’s something about it that isn’t taught as explicitly in schools and in books as male anatomy is. Perhaps the reason jokes about this subject aren’t as prominent because people aren’t as familiar with it as they are with males. Also, the subject of penis size has also always been a huge topic of discussion, especially in comedy. For years comedians, actors and actresses in movies, and every day people have been poking at fun at men who are lesser “endowed” than other men. But jokes are never made regarding size when it comes to female anatomy other than the common “boob size joke”. When someone makes a joke about a woman’s chest size, it’s generally regarded as extremely insensitive, and if it’s a guy they automatically become a jerk. –Yet it’s perfectly okay for both men and women alike to make a joke about a guy’s “size”.

    Is this because this is how it has always been? How can we make body part jokes regarding size equal? Will it ever be acceptable for a man to be able to make fun of a woman because her breast size is small, and not be considered an insensitive jerk?

    Although penis jokes are much more prominent than jokes about female’s bodies, they are also sometimes regarded as taboo in many comedic settings. Many comedy shows and comedy groups won’t even allow you to make these jokes. And when auditioning, actors are encouraged to steer clear of anything related to specific sexual organs. It’s almost peculiar in a way, how it is so common to make jokes about this subject, but then is discouraged in a formal comedy setting. In most cases this is because “dick jokes” are thought to be the lowest of low, or “weakest” / “last resort” jokes. A true comedian only makes a joke regarding male genitalia if they have nothing left to say, and even then, it’s almost a sin in comedy to stoop so low you have to make a joke about penises.

    Why is it so uncommon to make a joke about the anatomy of a transgender person? Or why do people feel uncomfortable laughing at certain anatomy jokes, as opposed to others.

     

    So really, there is no study as to why people don’t make jokes about female’s bodies as opposed to males.

     

    Sexism is just too funny.

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 1 Comment

  4. Tina Fey

    October 4, 2013 by Kathryn Lodwick (KEL5344)

    Actress, comedian, role model, MOST INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN IN MY LIFE!!!

     

    tina feyWhether you’ve read her memoir Bossypants, seen her interpretation of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live during the 2008 presidential elections, or love her on 30 Rock, most Americans have heard of Tina. Fey.

    In this blog post I’d like to focus on not only the life and career of Tina Fey, but why she’s so inspirational to me and how she has affected my life.

    Tina Fey (born Elizabeth Stamatina), studied drama at the University of Virginia (class of 1992), then headed to Chicago starting out in Second City, a comedy club in which many actors/comedians from Saturday Night Live started their careers. In 1995 recruiters from SNL discovered Fey. She soon became the first female on staff writer in the show’s history setting the bar for many female comics to come. In 2004 Fey wrote Mean Girls, then shortly after the debut of the film she started the acclaimed comedy series 30 Rock, a satirical play on her life as a writer for SNL.

    In many ways Ms. Fey is a role model, both as an entertainer and a woman. Not only has she been able to maintain a stable and successful career, but a personal life as well. (Fey is married with a daughter). Rarely do you hear something bad about Tiny Fey, most likely because people are afraid to say anything bad about her for fear she’ll make an SNL sketch about it (even though she is no longer writing for it, but then again it is Tina Fey.) Which in my opinion is a reasonable reason to be afraid. But who can’t admire someone who finds humor in the most grave situations and circumstances? Who doesn’t want to be able to laugh at some of life’s problems?

    Tina Fey has gotten me through so many difficult times; my junior year of high school I read her memoir Bossypants cover to cover 3 times. You couldn’t pull me away from that book. The way in which she wrote the book is more than conversational. You could almost feel Tina Fey breathing down your neck as she told you about these memories. Kind of creepy. I suppose it helps she was a comedy writer for SNL. 

    The way in which she has completely changed my life and inspired me is indescribable. As a kid I had never really watched comedy, and although I was raised around jokes and humor in general I never really knew one could pursue a career in comedy, other than stand up. As a child I was also slightly sexist. Not that my parents raised me like that, but as a little kid and you learn about what you want to be when you grow up it’s part of our culture, I suppose to use the words “policeman”, and “fireman”, even though that’s politically incorrect. And even though you could say “policewoman” or “police officer” to be gender neutral, a five-year-old isn’t able to understand that. So even if my mom had said “women can be policemen/police officers”, if she had said “policeman” first that would have been engraved in my head for a while. This was the case for comedians. My little head had ALWAYS associated stand up comedians to be male, and ONLY male. I knew women could be funny, don’t get me wrong, my mom and grandma were hilarious individuals and they are who I learned from, but I couldn’t fathom a woman being a stand up comic. I discovered Tina in 2008 during the presidential elections and I haven’t been the same since. She has inspired me that yes, women CAN be funny and pursue a career in comedy. I am no longer sexist!

     

    Other than making me laugh and getting me through some pretty tough times during my high school years she has inspired me to write comedy, be more confident in my performances and to just be an all-around happier person. When I was applying to colleges (as a comedy/script writing major), people often asked me what I wanted to do with my degree, and my response was always “I want to be the next Tina Fey”.

    I’m still trying.

     

    Sources (in which I found information about Tina Fey):

    Wikepedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Fey

    IMDb:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0275486/

    TinaFeyFan.com:http://www.tinafeyfan.com/

    NBC.COM(30 Rock and SNL sections):http://www.nbc.com/30-rock/

    Biography.com:http://www.biography.com/people/tina-fey-365284

    NYTIMES.com:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/books/bossypants-by-tina-fey-review.html?_r=0

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