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"Humor is always anger with it's makeup on."

I bought a book at a used book sale, and a slip of paper used as a bookmark had the above sentiment written on it. I have no idea of it's source, though it seems somehow familiar. The passing of Rodney Dangerfield brought it to mind again, for some reason. I have thought about it off and on for a good two weeks, and I am not sure it is always correct, but it sometimes is, and thus humor might be seen as a double edged sword in a way. Especially for stand-up comics, huh Lorna? How do you perceive this statement?

Curious minds want to know!

Carolynn wrote:"Humor is always anger with it's makeup on."

Having done some time in a Mental Hospital
(on assignment for Jack Nicholson) , I probably have to
disagree ... remember, "always" is a key word here ...
some folks are of the opinion that humour doesn't happen
without a "fallguy" ... someone has to be made to look ridiculous ...
*Sick* puns are among my favourite arguments against the essentiality of a "fallguy" Monty Python's Flying Circus (& Benny Hill, &Red Green) is full of genius and absurdities that harm noone
/Marda

It hurts me to witness some one getting hurt, as a result of humor at another's expense, When I am the recipient, I myself do not get hurt by it, but I do not find it funny.

hmmm

Carolynn, that's pretty deep, when you ponder on it for a moment. It's kind of true. hmmm?

I'll be back.

Beauty

I dunno, if it was true maybe it's just a way of controlling the anger? Who knows So does that mean everyone must be anger then? I don't think that statement is true

Sophie xx

Hi Carolynn,

I second what Beauty said. For something THIS deep I really need a little time to ponder this one. I'll be back shortly.

maybe it depends on the humour...some humour like gags when the p*ss is taken out of someone/a section of society etc does mask anger.
however humour as in straight forward-if usually unfunny-knock knock jokes doesnt.

Lorna wrote:Hi Carolynn,

I second what Beauty said. For something THIS deep I really need a little time to ponder this one. I'll be back shortly.

LOL.. Dang it Lorna! I wanted to hear what you had to say first!

I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks it's deep though. I'm still not ready... ooooor am I waiting on a gal with a cute Halloween avatar to say something first.

hmmmm

Beauty

Fear not, Beauty! For I am now finally ready...

Carolynn - excellent and very thought provoking topic!

"Humor is always anger with it's makeup on."

My personal take? I don't think I agree. Humor itself is a very broad phoenomenon, and I feel that humor is something that can be driven by a variety of emotions, thoughts and feelings.

It can manifest itself on an infinite amount of levels. There is no limit to humor. Thjat's the beauty of it. That is what initially drew me to standup. Many comedians over the years have followed standard comedic traditions or rituals, while many others have brought their own brand of style to the table.

In terms of general humor, there is clean and innocent humor (knock knock jokes) physical humor (Three Stooges) and situational humor (the most popular - from Bill Cosby to Jerry Seinfeld) as well as dark humor (movies like Pulp Fiction and Very Bad Things), raunchy humor (80s Eddie Murphy, Howard Stern), sexual humor, and disgusting humor (For example, farts are hilarious to me & I don't think I'll ever outgrow fart humor!! )

But if there's ONE style of humor I must say hats off to, it's the classic one liner-humor!! This was the way of the greats like W.C. Fields, Don Ricles, Milton Berle and Rodney Dangerfield. These comics will always have my respect (no pun intended)

As far as my standup routine, for the most part what I do is I just basically tell funny stories about actual situations that I get into as a CD, but I will insert a punchline or two to spice it up!

For example, there's my bit about getting a flat & having to change a tire on a busy expressway while dressed, where someone stops to help and I ask him to help me "tighten my nuts..."

Hi all!!!!

Yes to all the above. You have mostly come to the same conclusion that I have, though I do believe there is another category of "humor", malicious humor. The "put down" can be funny, if it is done without animosity, but there are types of "jokes" that can be very hurtful, and done on purpose to reinforce a stereotype, to increase one's sense of self importance at the expense of another or even entire group of people. A relatively minor form is the "Blonde Joke", a little more malicious is the "Olie and Olga jokes", the Okie Jokes, the Red Neck Jokes, though these can also be humor aimed a social control. Then there is the self deprecating humor, and while can be a way to reduce social stress in some situations and if the joker is secure in his personality and self esteem, but can actually hurt the joker if it reinforces a sense of low self esteem. Which, upon reflection is the same thing most of you have said in different ways. Anyway, I agree that HUMOR is far to complex to be covered by the statement I found in the book. I would really like to know where it originated, so I could understand the context.

Love,

All of those you mentioned have put happiness in my life when I could find none myself.
---------------
Lorna,

Helping people to laugh is a greatest ability. Always remember all you have given to others, I will.

Kersten

WE left out the great philosopher/comedian George Carlin. How about what I saw returning from the SCC. Two girls, on a six lane interstate, had somehow managed to hit a hurst, the lead car in a funreal prosession, and in the process knocked the coffin completely out of the hurst and it was sitting upright on the middle lane. Is it funny?? Assuming that no one was injured, Yeah!!! I still laugh, when I think about it! I don't see any anger in that - at least from my view point. Now humor based on race or disability (or something on us blondes) yeah, I no longer tolerate that type of humor. Guess you can find anger in just about anything - take religion - uh, sorry, let us not go there!
Virginia

Much humor is making fun of someone, and hence it is anger expressed with soft edges. I agree that there are different forms of humor. Not all humor expresses anger, but much of it does. The comedian, Dave Berry, has admitted at much. When we are angry at a politician, we make fun of them. Is that not anger expressed as humor?

To punch someone in the mouth is aggressive, but to laugh at them also is aggressive (although it may cause less bleeding). I would add, however, that anger is sometimes justified. At the recent Southern Comfort Conference, one of the performers in the talent show was a stand-up comedian who also was a crossdresser, and much of her humor was directed against the hypocrisy of a society that values individual freedom, yet persecutes those who express it. I am not sure it is inappropriate to express anger via humor. Sometimes the anger is well-founded.

laughter is compassion, no compassion equals pain. Bob Hope , Red Skelton, Stan Laural, Abott and Costello, Danny Kaye, Marty Feldman, Gene Wilder, Steve Martin, John Belushi, Al Frankin, All extremely Compassiate people, all wrote comedy before doing standup or movies. All were also very good at improvising. Don't remeber any of them doing anything hurtful to costars, or guests.
I had a therapist that always said "in every jest there is a bit of truth". seems to fit alot. ......Kristen