Comments on: 48. Amusement http://bloodylaughter.com/2008/07/26/48-amusement/ Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:04:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Maria http://bloodylaughter.com/2008/07/26/48-amusement/comment-page-1/#comment-1802 Maria Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:43:47 +0000 http://bloodylaughter.com/?p=226#comment-1802 I have just discovered that via blackberry, your blog is not only more accessible, but also more elegant than either the BBC or the NY Times. And that amuses me. I have just discovered that via blackberry, your blog is not only more accessible, but also more elegant than either the BBC or the NY Times. And that amuses me.

]]> By: alexis http://bloodylaughter.com/2008/07/26/48-amusement/comment-page-1/#comment-1800 alexis Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:12:37 +0000 http://bloodylaughter.com/?p=226#comment-1800 I feel compelled to write something about Roman comedy. It is applicable. The Greeks invented sophisticated, clever, imaginative comedy. Aristophanes is a good example. Most of the funny was in the form of barbs, facetiousness, occasionally sarcasm; the audience laughed (we presume) at the imaginative one-upmanship. The Romans invented buffoonery. Their greatest playwrite was Plautus. An example of one of his plays would be just like a Three's Comedy episode. The play always involved the most loathsome, selfish, miserly creature in the cast getting kicked around. I found it an eye-opener to discover that the Romans perceived the best way to deal with someone who was lacking in character was to hold them up to ridicule and have everyone laugh at them. Whenever I have been at a party such as you describe, and I have chanced to be annoyed by an individual, I have always tried to laugh in their face, long and loud and hard. You cannot believe how much this pisses them off. And shuts them up, too. I feel compelled to write something about Roman comedy. It is applicable.

The Greeks invented sophisticated, clever, imaginative comedy. Aristophanes is a good example. Most of the funny was in the form of barbs, facetiousness, occasionally sarcasm; the audience laughed (we presume) at the imaginative one-upmanship.

The Romans invented buffoonery. Their greatest playwrite was Plautus. An example of one of his plays would be just like a Three’s Comedy episode. The play always involved the most loathsome, selfish, miserly creature in the cast getting kicked around.

I found it an eye-opener to discover that the Romans perceived the best way to deal with someone who was lacking in character was to hold them up to ridicule and have everyone laugh at them.

Whenever I have been at a party such as you describe, and I have chanced to be annoyed by an individual, I have always tried to laugh in their face, long and loud and hard. You cannot believe how much this pisses them off.

And shuts them up, too.

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