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How funny is funny?
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From: Lindsay <linds_na>
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 12:24:42 -0700 (PDT)
I'm intrigued by this notion I inadvertently brought up about humor being
"style" vs. "basic thrust" in a book. I do think there's a difference, although I wouldn't attach value judgements to one or the other. There are some books, however, that are just knock-down-funny, where "funny" is the first adjective you'd use to describe the book. Of course, these books are many things besides, but I think there's a unique value in hilarity. James Marshall, Thacher Hurd, Sciezcka and Smith, Daniel Pinkwater... are names that jump to mind in picture books. And Pinkwater again in chapter books, as well as Sid Fleishman... (help me out here, anyone). These writers all serve that same need in our culture as Groucho Marx, Woody Allen, Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhad -- William Shakespeare. Oscar Wilde. Michael Moore. I'm jumping around. but my point is that humor is its own special form of communication, and there are pointed and important things that one can say only in the disarming and protective environment of pure silliness.
At a children's librarians' institute on humor in children's literature a year ago (at the San Francisco Public Library), Steve Sanfield, storyteller (and reteller of "Strudel, Strudel, Strudel", a story of Chelm, Orchard 1995) spoke to a group of us about Chelmite humor, and the importance of jokes and humor during the Jewish Holocaust. He gave some examples of Holocaust jokes (jokes that survivors told and tell) that had tears of joy and pain and disbelief and utter belief in the human spirit flowing down the aisles (I went nearly rolling down the aisle....). I wish I could recall one of the jokes -- I'd encourage anyone to look up Mr. Sanfield as a speaker on this subject.
Humor on this level is risky. Of offending, of upsetting. That is probably why it's so difficult to write, maybe even more difficult to publish (?) -- but it is always why it is so valuable.
Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Pulbic Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
"Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now?"
--William Stafford
Received on Mon 11 May 1998 02:24:42 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 12:24:42 -0700 (PDT)
I'm intrigued by this notion I inadvertently brought up about humor being
"style" vs. "basic thrust" in a book. I do think there's a difference, although I wouldn't attach value judgements to one or the other. There are some books, however, that are just knock-down-funny, where "funny" is the first adjective you'd use to describe the book. Of course, these books are many things besides, but I think there's a unique value in hilarity. James Marshall, Thacher Hurd, Sciezcka and Smith, Daniel Pinkwater... are names that jump to mind in picture books. And Pinkwater again in chapter books, as well as Sid Fleishman... (help me out here, anyone). These writers all serve that same need in our culture as Groucho Marx, Woody Allen, Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhad -- William Shakespeare. Oscar Wilde. Michael Moore. I'm jumping around. but my point is that humor is its own special form of communication, and there are pointed and important things that one can say only in the disarming and protective environment of pure silliness.
At a children's librarians' institute on humor in children's literature a year ago (at the San Francisco Public Library), Steve Sanfield, storyteller (and reteller of "Strudel, Strudel, Strudel", a story of Chelm, Orchard 1995) spoke to a group of us about Chelmite humor, and the importance of jokes and humor during the Jewish Holocaust. He gave some examples of Holocaust jokes (jokes that survivors told and tell) that had tears of joy and pain and disbelief and utter belief in the human spirit flowing down the aisles (I went nearly rolling down the aisle....). I wish I could recall one of the jokes -- I'd encourage anyone to look up Mr. Sanfield as a speaker on this subject.
Humor on this level is risky. Of offending, of upsetting. That is probably why it's so difficult to write, maybe even more difficult to publish (?) -- but it is always why it is so valuable.
Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Pulbic Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
"Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now?"
--William Stafford
Received on Mon 11 May 1998 02:24:42 PM CDT
