Response #3: Adventures

I'm starting to realize that I mostly enjoy the short stories from Hokum that make you think in a different way. Obviously because the book is about African American humor and takes place in a completely different time, a lot of the logic and thinking behind each story is completely different from any school of thought I would have.

While reading Langston Hughes's Adventures, I came to this realization that these short stories are humorous because of the way they are completely opposite of what I am used to. I was a little confused at first when the narrator said that white people should go to the South to get adventure, because to me and my post-civil rights era mind, the South at that time would seem like a safe and boring environment to white people because they have so many liberties that the black community did not. However, that thought changed once the narrator stated that white people could not go to "Colored Only" zones, which in a way is humorous. Pointing this out makes white people look pretty dumb because they are so adamant about not associating with the black population that they are even willing to restrict themselves. It seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot because instead of having all the freedom in they want, they have actually made it harder on themselves.

I really like the social commentary found in the story, especially with such a different take on it. I honestly never thought of separated parts of cities in the South as a restriction to white people, but now that it has been pointed out, I can't help to think it's funny.

Response #2: Buddy, Can You Spare a Tie?

This story had me feeling all sorts of things. The biggest thing was probably a feeling of disgust from the Stadium Pal. The entire concept sounds like an awful idea, and there are much better "manly" accessories out there! I feel bad for the guy for ever thinking that attaching a bag of urine to your calf is a good idea in the first place. That brings me to the second biggest emotion felt during this reading: a comical pity. I have heard of girls feeling the need to wear fake butts or fake boobs but I cannot say I have ever heard of a guy who was actually willing to do so to make himself feel better (or of a girl who was willing to take the fake butt off the guy's hands; I feel like there should be some sort of sanitary issue there but I guess not). The fact that he was so worried about his butt was comical to me, because it does not seem like an issue most guys care about. The more I read, the more I started to wonder if Sedaris was straight or gay. After some googling I found that he actually is gay, and I think this made the story funnier in a different way. I still felt pity for him as he described his sister's forceful and ridiculous shopping trips with him, but I started imagining those guys who are victim to girls who are excited to finally have a "gay best friend".

I also found the comment about why bow ties are not okay pretty funny. I shared it with my fratty guy friends and they did not enjoy it as much as I did. Oops

Third Meeting with Paula

Although Paula and I have only met a few times now, she and I are having great conversations each week. This week we were complaining about speech classes and how hard they are. She told me about how she had to improvise a speech she was not prepared for, and how she basically had to make up something on the spot about an inspirational person she knew. I thought this was funny because she always looks so put together, and because she is a bit older than me and married, she seems much more responsible than me. So it was pretty funny to see a completely different side of her, especially one that was so unexpected

I really enjoy Paula's company because she has a different perspective of things than I do many times, mostly because of cultural differences. However, when it comes to values, it seems that we both share many beliefs. Apparently some aspects of American and Columbian life are very similar, especially when it comes to young adults who are our age. We spent a while comparing and contrasting these lifestyles and sharing our own thoughts on them, and found that we agreed in pretty much all areas. Paula even gave me some good life advice this week, which I appreciated very much since she has seen and experienced so much.

I saw this commercial the other day

laughter is so strange

Response to Thompson's The Kentucky Derby is Decadent

I honestly didn’t find Hunter Thompson’s The Kentucky Derby is Decadent. I thought it was way too crude, and although I can find crude humor funny a lot of times, I didn’t think there was really anything funny about the story. I’m not sure if it was just because I just didn’t understand the story the way I was supposed to, because I do admit to being a bit confused about what it was even about and what was going on. I guess I really didn’t even see a point in the story either, and it kind of made me bored. I wouldn’t say the story made me uncomfortable in the fact that it was so raw, but more annoyed than anything else. It was kind of one of those things where I found all the cussing and impolite terminology to be unnecessary.

I also must admit that my Texan pride was a little hurt at the way he described Jimbo, especially because he was from Houston, which is where I was from. I think that is just a Texas thing though, where we don’t like to hear that we are a little dumb and oblivious to the rest of the world at times. 

Second Meeting with Paula

Today was the first time Paula and I actually had lunch together. We both found that we share similar tastes in food, and we shared where and what we liked to eat, which was interesting.

A lot of times throughout our conversations Paula will ask me if she is saying or pronouncing things correctly. Today she said what many people who are learning English as a second language would say: that the language makes no sense. This got us laughing, because even to me, the technicality of English doesn't make sense a lot of times. This took up most of our conversation, and it reminded me of Anguished English, and how the English language can be so easily misinterpreted.

3 Most Important Things to Remember from Comic Relief

1. There are many theories as to why we find certain things funny and why we laugh
I thought this idea was pretty apparent throughout the book. Although it seemed redundant at times, Morreal proved time and time again that no theory was really wrong, and that each theory held some truth. It is interesting to find out that there are so many psychological, emotional, and physical reasons why we laugh and find things funny, and I think Morreal pointing this out is important. I have noticed myself laughing and have lately been more curious enough to ask "Why am I laughing at this?" or "What part of that event made me laugh?" Many times I am able to answer my question with one of the theories Morreal described in his book. Some of the biggest theories I have noticed in action are those dealing with cognitive shifts, which brings me to my next point.

2. Cognitive Shifts
Ever since reading this book, however much I did not enjoy it, I cannot help but notice the patterns of humor, especially when it comes to cognitive shifts (it actually drives me kind of crazy sometimes). I can't help but look for them, and they truly are everywhere. I believe I notice them more often because out of all of Morreal's theories, they are the most logical to me. I especially see them in TV shows that I watch, and notice that events where cognitive shifts occur are those that make me laugh the most. I also realized that sometimes, cognitive shifts do not make us laugh, they make us angry. It made me think, "What made this situation funny, and that one not?" Again, I find myself thinking about the process of humor more often because of Comic Relief.

3. Humor provides social connection, and serves as a means of relieving a community
One of the most powerful things I read in Morreal's book was the idea of positive effects of humor. I enjoyed the part about humor in the Holocaust, because I really admire the way a community can take such a negative event and make it more enjoyable. I believe humor and comedy can connect a society, whether it be against against an opposing force, or just to each other. I believe this is true for most cases, although sometimes the humor can be malicious towards the other group. Either way, I think it is important that Morreal pointed out the social impact humor has on a community because it is a very strong one.