March 12, 2022
Wikipedia definition: A humorist (American) or humourist (British spelling) is an intellectual who uses humor, or wit, in writing or public speaking, but is not an artist who seeks only to elicit laughs. Humorists are distinct from comedians, who are show business entertainers whose business is to make an audience laugh. It is possible to play both roles in the course of a career.
Hmmmm. I consider myself a humorist. It says so right on my home page: “Humorous Illustration for the Comically Challenged.” Cartooning is an extension of writing so I like that part of the Wiki definition, but you have to knock out “intellectual” for me to wear it well. I do give a lot of thought on how to find humor in tragic situations, though. The pandemic offered many such opportunities as we collectively battled a faceless impersonal enemy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a tougher task.
The following repeats what I wrote on a new page here at MarianiDesign.com.
I sincerely hope that this gallery dedicated to the Ukraine crisis is short-lived and that it can join the archives of stuff that happened. But it is happening now and it presents challenges on presenting any kind of humor. Fortunately, Vladimir Putin is an authentic bad guy, a scary antagonist in an unfolding story. Perhaps the cornered bear with imperialistic dreams eventually becomes an impotent circus bear. That would be a fitting end.
5 thoughts on “No Laughing Matter”
Or a bear rug.
Or a humorous taxidermy creation?
One thing leads to another, Jeanne. Your suggestions are excellent!
I think that many things in the world are reshaping. When living through major stresses (pandemic, attempted empire building) both innovation and being able to bend are essential. Just today i was reading that business ownership by black people in the U.S. is up by over 30% over prepandemic levels, driven mostly by people who have had to be extra innovative in life, black women.
So, in the cases of humor and comedy perhaps we should look again at how to define “intellectual” because it might at times mean finding and utilizing new niches for humor, new viewpoints. For example, despite how well humor has worked in sales in the past it is too rarely creatively used by businesses to increase sales. Why? Because it is hard. But, would it be as hard if advertising and sales better utilized people who are good at thinking that way, whether visually or through words or music? Look at examples from the past and you will find many intellectuals and heroes who did not fit into cookie cutter molds, and those were usually ones who especially excelled.
What the world needs less of right now are people moaning about returning to normal, and more recognizing that we may well be entering an exciting wave of innovation. Personally, I want that to include innovative humor, both as a tool and for its sheer pleasure.
Part 2: I guess that part of what i am trying to say is that your ability to translate daily events into new perspectives and make those viewpoints so accessible requires an ability to comprehend multiple ways of observing something (a too rare ability because watching rather than just seeing and listening rather than just hearing are both too rare). Doing that integrates basic skills of Critical Analysis, of good friendship, of innovation, of humor, and of intellect because different perspectives can be hard for many of us to grasp. If that is not intellectual humor then i do not know what is. Intellectual abilities are found in mental plasticity, growth, and practice, not in suede elbow patches on blazers, or letters behind one’s name, or specific careers. When done right it is inclusive rather than exclusive. I do think we are entering a time when the sheer needs for innovation and an ability to bend will lead to more inclusion. (Only time will tell which and how many CEOs and advertising companies reach similar conclusions.)
I am crushed to find out that suede elbow patches will not increase my intellectual abilities. This was going to be my “Sure Fire – Can’t Miss – Easy Street – Womp Bomp A Loo Mow Mow” path to cranial superiority AND haute couture. Although putting elbow patches on T shirts proved to be way more vexing than I thought. In fact, I can feel my intellectual abilities receding as I type this.
If anyone wants suede elbow patches in black, blue or brown, let me know soon before my intellectual abilities are gone completely and I return to politics.