Why so witty are Jews and African-Americans? I know!
“What must this people have suffered, that they might become thus beautiful?—Nietzsche
Wit is about many things but power may be its most important characteristic. I think that Jews and African Americans are successful wits in our society because wit provides them both an escape from the world’s discrimination and because it provides the witty with power that serves as a defense against the strong hate and discrimination that the world showers on Jews and Blacks.
The other day I listened to an interview on NPR with Jerry Seinfeld. The interview took place many years ago before Seinfeld had made his appearance on the “Jerry Seinfeld show. Jerry said something that surprised and impressed me. Jerry made it clear that he considers wit to be a very powerful force when welded in the hands of the comic.
Wit allows the comic to manipulate the audience into becoming completely in the control of the comic. The successful comic quickly grabs the audience and makes them her captive, which s/he can lead in whatever direction desired.
Freud wrote “Wit and the Unconscious early in his career. This book is considered to be Freud’s most significant contribution to the theory of wit, which is, by extension, the theory of art.
In this book Freud “affirms the connection between art and the pleasure-principle¦he also affirms the connection between art and childishness; however childishness is not a reproach, but the ideal kingdom of pleasure which art knows how to recover¦with scant effort¦Play on words—the technique of wit—is recovered when thought is allowed to sink into the unconscious¦Freud’s analysis of wit invites extension to the whole domain of art.
Psychoanalysis is about the nature of repression; the essential characteristic of the human psyche.
There is a constant conflict between the conscious and the unconscious. Societies repress the individual and the individual represses the self.
Neurotic behavior, dreams, and various “Freudian slips provide us with e-mails from the unconscious that elude the conscious repression mechanism. These behavior characteristics are meaningful because they manifest the purpose of the unconscious that remains hidden from consciousness.
The conscious mind strenuously disowns and resists the rumblings of the unconscious. The conscious self disowns and resists its human nature.
Neurosis is the label given to these human phenomena of conflict between the conscious and unconscious self. All of us are neurotic to one degree or another. When this neurosis interferes with ‘normal’ human behavior then, and only then, does it require outside interference by society.
Universal neurosis is the analogy of “original sin for theological doctrine.
In “Life against Death Norman Brown develops, with the help of Freudian theory, a theory of art. There are no paradigms in art; the psychoanalytic themes in art offer a perspective in the doctrine of “there is no single meaning to any work of art.
Questions for discussion
Do you find difficulty in comprehending wit as a form of art?
Is wit as powerful as Seinfeld surmised?
Is this power of wit as surprising to you as it was to me?
Why so witty are Jews and African-Americans? I know!
Why so witty are Jews and African-Americans? I know!
coberst;610168 wrote: Why so witty are Jews and African-Americans? I know!
“What must this people have suffered, that they might become thus beautiful?—Nietzsche
Wit is about many things but power may be its most important characteristic. I think that Jews and African Americans are successful wits in our society because wit provides them both an escape from the world’s discrimination and because it provides the witty with power that serves as a defense against the strong hate and discrimination that the world showers on Jews and Blacks.
The other day I listened to an interview on NPR with Jerry Seinfeld. The interview took place many years ago before Seinfeld had made his appearance on the “Jerry Seinfeld show. Jerry said something that surprised and impressed me. Jerry made it clear that he considers wit to be a very powerful force when welded in the hands of the comic.
Wit allows the comic to manipulate the audience into becoming completely in the control of the comic. The successful comic quickly grabs the audience and makes them her captive, which s/he can lead in whatever direction desired.
Freud wrote “Wit and the Unconscious early in his career. This book is considered to be Freud’s most significant contribution to the theory of wit, which is, by extension, the theory of art.
In this book Freud “affirms the connection between art and the pleasure-principle¦he also affirms the connection between art and childishness; however childishness is not a reproach, but the ideal kingdom of pleasure which art knows how to recover¦with scant effort¦Play on words—the technique of wit—is recovered when thought is allowed to sink into the unconscious¦Freud’s analysis of wit invites extension to the whole domain of art.
Psychoanalysis is about the nature of repression; the essential characteristic of the human psyche.
There is a constant conflict between the conscious and the unconscious. Societies repress the individual and the individual represses the self.
Neurotic behavior, dreams, and various “Freudian slips provide us with e-mails from the unconscious that elude the conscious repression mechanism. These behavior characteristics are meaningful because they manifest the purpose of the unconscious that remains hidden from consciousness.
The conscious mind strenuously disowns and resists the rumblings of the unconscious. The conscious self disowns and resists its human nature.
Neurosis is the label given to these human phenomena of conflict between the conscious and unconscious self. All of us are neurotic to one degree or another. When this neurosis interferes with ‘normal’ human behavior then, and only then, does it require outside interference by society.
Universal neurosis is the analogy of “original sin for theological doctrine.
In “Life against Death Norman Brown develops, with the help of Freudian theory, a theory of art. There are no paradigms in art; the psychoanalytic themes in art offer a perspective in the doctrine of “there is no single meaning to any work of art.
Questions for discussion
Do you find difficulty in comprehending wit as a form of art? No but it might be hard to paint it.
Is wit as powerful as Seinfeld surmised? Yes, How else do you explain how far I have come without intelligence.
Is this power of wit as surprising to you as it was to me? No, See above answer
“What must this people have suffered, that they might become thus beautiful?—Nietzsche
Wit is about many things but power may be its most important characteristic. I think that Jews and African Americans are successful wits in our society because wit provides them both an escape from the world’s discrimination and because it provides the witty with power that serves as a defense against the strong hate and discrimination that the world showers on Jews and Blacks.
The other day I listened to an interview on NPR with Jerry Seinfeld. The interview took place many years ago before Seinfeld had made his appearance on the “Jerry Seinfeld show. Jerry said something that surprised and impressed me. Jerry made it clear that he considers wit to be a very powerful force when welded in the hands of the comic.
Wit allows the comic to manipulate the audience into becoming completely in the control of the comic. The successful comic quickly grabs the audience and makes them her captive, which s/he can lead in whatever direction desired.
Freud wrote “Wit and the Unconscious early in his career. This book is considered to be Freud’s most significant contribution to the theory of wit, which is, by extension, the theory of art.
In this book Freud “affirms the connection between art and the pleasure-principle¦he also affirms the connection between art and childishness; however childishness is not a reproach, but the ideal kingdom of pleasure which art knows how to recover¦with scant effort¦Play on words—the technique of wit—is recovered when thought is allowed to sink into the unconscious¦Freud’s analysis of wit invites extension to the whole domain of art.
Psychoanalysis is about the nature of repression; the essential characteristic of the human psyche.
There is a constant conflict between the conscious and the unconscious. Societies repress the individual and the individual represses the self.
Neurotic behavior, dreams, and various “Freudian slips provide us with e-mails from the unconscious that elude the conscious repression mechanism. These behavior characteristics are meaningful because they manifest the purpose of the unconscious that remains hidden from consciousness.
The conscious mind strenuously disowns and resists the rumblings of the unconscious. The conscious self disowns and resists its human nature.
Neurosis is the label given to these human phenomena of conflict between the conscious and unconscious self. All of us are neurotic to one degree or another. When this neurosis interferes with ‘normal’ human behavior then, and only then, does it require outside interference by society.
Universal neurosis is the analogy of “original sin for theological doctrine.
In “Life against Death Norman Brown develops, with the help of Freudian theory, a theory of art. There are no paradigms in art; the psychoanalytic themes in art offer a perspective in the doctrine of “there is no single meaning to any work of art.
Questions for discussion
Do you find difficulty in comprehending wit as a form of art? No but it might be hard to paint it.
Is wit as powerful as Seinfeld surmised? Yes, How else do you explain how far I have come without intelligence.
Is this power of wit as surprising to you as it was to me? No, See above answer
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RedGlitter
- Posts: 15777
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Why so witty are Jews and African-Americans? I know!
coberst;610168 wrote: Why so witty are Jews and African-Americans? I know!
“What must this people have suffered, that they might become thus beautiful?—Nietzsche
I don't see that African American people and Jews are any wittier than any other segment of the population, myself. I am thinking of the comics I have heard and individuals I have known. I never really thought "For a black guy, he's pretty funny," for example. I think Carlos Mencia is a riot and very smart with all his material on his fellow Latinos, but I have never really thought about it in the context of your OP.
Questions for discussion
Do you find difficulty in comprehending wit as a form of art?
No. Not at all.
The best wit in my opinion, hits a person fast and direct. You either get it or you don't. If it has to be explained, it loses some of its integrity along the way. I was just saying this same thing to someone else about comics. (cartoons) About how I consider them to be a pure art form. But back to the topic...
I understand the power wit wields over others. And I often find it to be a sensual thing, even. There's something that happens when that connection is made between people; when something is said and you think "Aha! You get it too!" There's an instant bond because that person also knows the human condition just as you do.
Is wit as powerful as Seinfeld surmised?
I don't know about Seinfeld but yes, it is very powerful. In wit there is often truth, and in truth there is power.
Is this power of wit as surprising to you as it was to me?
I don't believe so. I've just always taken it for granted.
...
“What must this people have suffered, that they might become thus beautiful?—Nietzsche
I don't see that African American people and Jews are any wittier than any other segment of the population, myself. I am thinking of the comics I have heard and individuals I have known. I never really thought "For a black guy, he's pretty funny," for example. I think Carlos Mencia is a riot and very smart with all his material on his fellow Latinos, but I have never really thought about it in the context of your OP.
Questions for discussion
Do you find difficulty in comprehending wit as a form of art?
No. Not at all.
The best wit in my opinion, hits a person fast and direct. You either get it or you don't. If it has to be explained, it loses some of its integrity along the way. I was just saying this same thing to someone else about comics. (cartoons) About how I consider them to be a pure art form. But back to the topic...
I understand the power wit wields over others. And I often find it to be a sensual thing, even. There's something that happens when that connection is made between people; when something is said and you think "Aha! You get it too!" There's an instant bond because that person also knows the human condition just as you do.
Is wit as powerful as Seinfeld surmised?
I don't know about Seinfeld but yes, it is very powerful. In wit there is often truth, and in truth there is power.
Is this power of wit as surprising to you as it was to me?
I don't believe so. I've just always taken it for granted.
...