In the WSJ today there was a review of "Politics is a Joke," a book about political humor and the relatively recent phenomenon, where serious candidates must appear on late night talk shows to assure the public that they have a sense of humor.
It was interesting to note that Bill Clinton was the first pol to appear on Johnny Carson's Tonight how. But going back in time, I recall that Presidential candidate Nixon did a "Sock it to me" cameo on the "Laugh-in" program back in 1968 (which he credited as one of the reasons he got elected.)
It is gratifying to consider that the US electorate prefers a leader who has a sense of humor. I have always thought a sense of humor requires a having a sense of perspective. The fundamental element of humor is the delight in the unexpected. Humorless people hate surprises and unintended outcomes.
It was not surprising that Republican politicians are more likely to be the butt of the jokes than Democrats. Claims that comedy shows and comedians tend to be liberal are true. It follows that most of the mainstream media lean toward a "progressive" agenda. It is a hallmark of the intellectually curious mind to dare to question the dogma of the past, to chuckle at irony, hypocrisy and paradox.
This is not to say that Conservatives lack a sense of humor. They are big on fart jokes, puns, banana slips, ethnic jokes, and 3 stooges sight gags. What they lack is the ability to laugh at themselves, to be silly, or to question their own fundamental beliefs. Comedy is a world of color. The Conservative sees things as chiaroscuro.
(Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls).
No comments:
Post a Comment