CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] What's So Funny -- can we discuss??
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: fairrosa
Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 23:47:58 -0400
Cathy Norman wrote:
and Cathy proceeded in relating an annecdote about her two daughters' polarized reactions to the story where Eeyore lost his home.
I agree that there is some truth in "eye of the beholder" theory -- there is always the question of "taste." Some of us can never bear gross-out humor and some others cannot tolerate any humor that involves mistreatment of an animal and some of us love black humor while others simply cannot even fathome the appeal...
However, since we are here to discuss Humor and What's So Funny - I cannot simply turn my head and forget about what makes certain literary piece Almost Universally Appealing. As to Beauty, there is some sort of "general consensus" by the public -- otherwise we will not have movie stars whom millions of people flock to see not simply because of their acting talents but also because their
"beauty," so judged by millions.
Certain elements and techniques of humorous writings should be able to sustain discussion and analysis. I would like to think harder and solicit others' opinions so I can better understand of how humor works -- isn't that why we are on a discussion list? To discuss?
I'm reading Harris and Me right now and finding some of its gross-out humor hard to digest for myself but can see many kids attracted to it. However, I do find the sophisticated language might prove daunting to younger readers for whom I would think scenes like knee deep in cow manure and waging a war with pigs appeal to more (than older readers.) Although the gross-out humor is slapstick-ish, much of the book's second or third layer of humor relies on the reader's ability to discern the tongue-in-cheek subtlety and a higher inference skill, which might not be truly developed until early teen (for most children.)
Has anyone read it out loud to a group of kids -- what grade and how did they react?
Does anyone know children, 11 or younger, who actually appreciated this book and its humor on his or her own?
I'm curious.
-- fairrosa
Received on Tue 07 May 2002 10:47:58 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 23:47:58 -0400
Cathy Norman wrote:
and Cathy proceeded in relating an annecdote about her two daughters' polarized reactions to the story where Eeyore lost his home.
I agree that there is some truth in "eye of the beholder" theory -- there is always the question of "taste." Some of us can never bear gross-out humor and some others cannot tolerate any humor that involves mistreatment of an animal and some of us love black humor while others simply cannot even fathome the appeal...
However, since we are here to discuss Humor and What's So Funny - I cannot simply turn my head and forget about what makes certain literary piece Almost Universally Appealing. As to Beauty, there is some sort of "general consensus" by the public -- otherwise we will not have movie stars whom millions of people flock to see not simply because of their acting talents but also because their
"beauty," so judged by millions.
Certain elements and techniques of humorous writings should be able to sustain discussion and analysis. I would like to think harder and solicit others' opinions so I can better understand of how humor works -- isn't that why we are on a discussion list? To discuss?
I'm reading Harris and Me right now and finding some of its gross-out humor hard to digest for myself but can see many kids attracted to it. However, I do find the sophisticated language might prove daunting to younger readers for whom I would think scenes like knee deep in cow manure and waging a war with pigs appeal to more (than older readers.) Although the gross-out humor is slapstick-ish, much of the book's second or third layer of humor relies on the reader's ability to discern the tongue-in-cheek subtlety and a higher inference skill, which might not be truly developed until early teen (for most children.)
Has anyone read it out loud to a group of kids -- what grade and how did they react?
Does anyone know children, 11 or younger, who actually appreciated this book and its humor on his or her own?
I'm curious.
-- fairrosa
Received on Tue 07 May 2002 10:47:58 PM CDT
