Richard Pryor Image via Wikipedia
Kahil Gibran the Persian author of The Prophet
Mel Brooks had a slightly different take, “Tragedy is when I get a papercut. Comedy is when you fall into an open manhole.”
William Shakespeare in Hamlet
Or this: “Life is a tragedy to those who feel, and a comedy to those who think.” from Jean de la Bruyere
And this formula from Carol Burnet: “Comedy is tragedy plus time.”
A good friend of mine, Gail DeLay, who passed away a few years ago, was a gifted cartoonist and a humorous speaker. She and I nearly got thrown out of a session at the National Speakers Association convention one year because the speaker was promoting “leave behinds.” Items, like handouts, that you “left behind” after a speech. These helped people remember you, remember your message, and could perhaps lead to other bookings…
I mentioned it first to her, but she drew the cartoon… a table at the door to a room piled high with butts. And a sign above that said: Leave Behinds.
OK. I admit, this wasn’t and isn’t hilarious, but after two full days of people talking about the “serious” and “important” business of speaking… we were primed to giggle at anything. This definitely falls into the YHBT category of humor (You Had To Be There.) But illustrates Gail’s gift, of cutting through to the funny.
One of my favorite cartoons by Gail showed a man standing before St Peter at the pearly Gates of Heaven. St Peter is reviewing the man’s file and says “Hmm… a professional speaker and humorist?… Gee! It’s too bad you died. It would have made a great story.”
Richard Pryor created some of his funniest material out of the pain of drug addiction. After he recovered from setting himself on fire while freebasing cocaine, he added this to his act: “If you are running down the street with your face on fire, people will get out of your way.”
I am not suggesting that you have to get addicted to drugs, almost kill yourself or survive some peril in order to be funny. In fact, most people who survive these events don’t make anything humorous out of the experience at all.
But if you look at what you laugh at now, at the things that happened way back then. If you look at what is funny at class reunions. And at what gets brought up at family holiday get-togethers. At one time some of it was painful.
So give yourself a little time, as Carol Burnet suggests. Look within the pain as Kahlil Gibran reminds us. And we all can’t be Shakespeare, but his advice holds: good or bad – thinking makes it so.
More about mining your past next time.
Thanks for reading, leave comments, subscribe for free…
and in honor of Gail DeLay, leave your behinds at the door!
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on Nov 11th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
It’s a form of healing. You know you’re past something when you can laugh at it. Great piece.
on Nov 12th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Who says a room piled high with butts isn’t funny? It’s hilarious! I find I’m better able to write about the horrors and embarrassments of my childhood because it makes people laugh and those experiences can’t hurt me now. It’s cathartic, actually.
on Nov 12th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
This is the first time I’ve heard Carol Burnett’s quote, “Comedy is tragedy plus time.” That is perfect.
And Kathy’s right, like all writing, writing comedy is cathartic.
Excellent post, I enjoyed it.
Annie
on Nov 12th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Thanks for all the comments folks. I had forgotten to mention anything about catharsis, etc. I guess I could have named the post Gold in Them Thar Heals!
on Nov 13th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Yes! Gold in Them Thar Heals! Say, can you write all my post titles for me?
on Nov 14th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Hey Dan ~
I am updating my blogroll links and have enjoyed reading your blog lately. Just wanted to let you know I put a link to your site in my humor section.
Keep up the good work,
Monica
on Nov 14th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
oh, i realized, i did my comment on the previous one. but anyway, as i said, i’m happy that i stumble on this site, you’re a great writer.
on Nov 16th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Dan..
Hey, Honey..thanks fer the tag. I don’t know who said this…”True humor is born of pain.” Could have been Oscar Wilde, or maybe me in one of my drunken stupors, but I have found it to be sure ’nuff true. So, as David Sedaris says, we can always think, “Wow, this is gonna be some funny shit to write about!”
Peace,
Eve
on Nov 16th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Monica, thanks every link-a-bit helps!
Grace, It’s OK you can leve as many comments as you like!
Eve,
The David Sedaris quote is great. I need to re-read his stuff again.
on Nov 17th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Gibran’s commentary on Love is a favorite of mine.
I find that my life is an endless source of amusement; being the fool can help navigation of a challenging path, therin lies the wisdom
You Gust Blog goes live today~ thx
on Nov 21st, 2008 at 5:50 am
Awesome site, I am going to read more of your posts soon.
on Nov 22nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I love this post.
My funniest moments are in the wake of things that would make others cringe, or cry. Coping mechanism? Perhaps. But tragedy and lifes obstacles are freaking funny. You just have to look past it.
on Nov 24th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Char: Thanks for the opportunity to guest post.
Kelley: Looking past it. That’s a key. And I find that attempting humor, makes that looking past happen sooner.