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We're all aware that there are stereotypes. The British are sharply sarcastic, the Americans are great at physical comedy, and the Japanese love puns. But is humour actually driven by culture to any meaningful extent? Couldn't it be more universal – or depend largely on the individual?
There are some good reasons to believe that there is such a thing as a national sense of humour. But let's start with what we actually have in common, by looking at the kinds of humour that most easily transcend borders.
Certain kinds of humour are more commonly used in circumstances that are international and multicultural in nature – such as airports. When it comes to onoard entertainment, airlines, in particular, are fond of humour that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries for obvious reasons. Slapstick humour and the bland but almost universally tolerable social transgressions and faux pas of Mr Bean permit a safe, gentle humour that we can all relate to. Also, the silent situational dilemmas of the Canadian Just for Laughs hidden camera reality television show has been a staple option for airlines for many years.
These have a broad reach and are probably unlikely to offend most people. Of course, an important component in their broad appeal is that they are not really based on language.
Humor is no laughing matter. Levity can kill. But can it also bind us together?
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday May 05 2017, @03:55PM (4 children)
female comediennes
Okay, this is just getting ridiculous.
A) "Comedienne" is already inherently female. Putting "female" in front of it is just redundant.
B) Why the hell do we need gender-differentiated nouns for professions anyway? Actor/actress, steward/stewardess, comedian/comedienne--it's pointless and stupid. Just use the un-gendered base version for everybody. Drawing attention to the gender serves what purpose, exactly?
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Friday May 05 2017, @04:14PM (3 children)
I, on the other hand, find de-gendering everything equally ridiculous. Women should not aspire to be men, nor men aspire to be women. They both bring so much to the human experience, if in different ways. If there's such a thing as a nightmarish gender future, it's androgyny. Actresses should remain actresses, because they're awesome and powerful. "Female actor" is an insipid, pitiful abridgment. Sorcerers exude magic, sorceresses can melt knights at 50 paces. "Female sorcerers" imply lesser creatures that would scamper into a corner to cry.
Men think differently than women do. Women lead differently than men do. Men stand tall when women shelter. Women show steel when men fall apart. If you torture and contort them to fit in a one-size-fits-all box you lose all of that, and gain nothing.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday May 05 2017, @04:49PM (2 children)
See, I wouldn't use the term "female actor" either. Just call them an actor; most of the time you can tell what their gender is if you really care by their name.
Of course men and women are different, I just don't see the need to draw attention to that in e.g. headlines and other passing references. It's like whatever that article was earlier in the week "Black man graduates college" or whatever. Is him being black and male actually relevant to this discussion?
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday May 05 2017, @04:52PM (1 child)
I suppose it comes down to whether you consider "actor" a gendered term. Is "actor and actress" male and female, or generic and female? I lean towards the former; you, the latter.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday May 05 2017, @04:54PM
blarg. vice versa. frack
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"