Sunday 14 September 2008

Forum week 7

Bombings and a bit of boob wobbling? All on September 11? Again? It really seems of little point to merely repeat here what was presented in Forum or voice an opinion on each presentation with a couple of sentences so I shall explore a slight ‘trend’ that appears to be happening lately. Maybe it is just my imagination, but it appears the boundaries of humour have been tested in recent weeks. I just hope we are not stepping too close to the edge with what is perceived as humour. I guess as long as we all laugh together it is funny, if people are offended or the class goes silent it is not.

Quoting good old Wikipedia (which may be humourous in itself), humour occurs when:
1. An alternative (or surprising) shift in perception or answer is given that still shows relevance and can explain a situation.
2. Sudden relief occurs from a tense situation. "Humourific" as formerly applied in comedy referred to the interpretation of the sublime and the ridiculous, a relation also known as as bathos. In this context, humour is often a subjective experience as it depends on a special mood or perspective from its audience to be effective.
3. Two ideas or things are juxtaposed that are very distant in meaning emotionally or conceptually, that is, having a significant incongruity.
4. We laugh at something that points out another's errors, lack of intelligence, or unfortunate circumstances; granting a sense of superiority.

Well there you have it. People can do with that as they see fit.

Anyway (and not intended to be related to the above paragraphs but it will appear to be so)…this appears to be evidence that Sanad should have perhaps played this composition in last weeks Forum instead of what he then improvised. This piece seems to have gotten a lot more emotional response. :)

Whittington, Steven. 2008. “Forum.” Seminar presented at the University of Adelaide, 11th September.

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