demands, is hive-mind thinking usually found in
Narrative comedy goes hand-in-hand with
rigid hierarchies such as large corporations or
tragedy. The two masks, one of which is laughing
government bodies. It has no place in comedy, for
and the other crying, make up Drama. Tragedy
three reasons. It operates within strict parameters
needs a little bit of levity, and comedy needs to be
(though those restrictions are more flexible and
about something important.
temporary than adherents would admit). Second, it
Important topics are the meat and potatoes of
robs any narrative of surprise and therefore
narrative comedy. Whether it's a one-liner joke or a
laughter. Finally, and most importantly, political
complete comic movie's story, if it’s successful
correctness is boring, boring, boring.
you'll find at the heart of it something that is dark,
even bleak.
People who insist that some topics are beyond
ridicule are either ignorant or small-minded.
Everyone has topics that are dear to their hearts.
Sometimes we will laugh at everything but one
particular topic, a topic close to our hearts. Usually
that topic resonates with something that has
happened in our own lives.
You could select what can and can’t be joked
about but that would be cherry-picking humour,
choosing what others may or may not find amusing.
It’d be a doomed enterprise. People will laugh at
things, even though we may not see the joke.
The fact is, things that make us laugh are
mostly terrible things. Men (and women, but mostly
men) slip on banana peels and, depending on our
own experiences, we can laugh at it or cry.
Laughing is, ironically, a more mature response
The trick for comedians and writers is to create
comedy that causes the audience to feel surprised
and yet at the same time to reveal something to the
to fear and sorrow than weeping.
That’s comedy. That's life.
Deal with it.
audience that they’ll recognise as truth. Many
things, even dark and frightening things, are based
upon truths, often uncomfortable truths.
Tim Ferguson is author of ‘Carry A Big Stick’
(published by Hachette)