There's a question. Whether we're talking about trying to cram humor into the urban fantasy genre, or just getting our friends to spit Sprite out their noses (or better yet, milk). I could try to dissect the notion of humor, but that would diminish it, every time. I could tell you that comedy is the gap between the subjective expectation of language and the shock of that broken expectation; that the personal relevance of any written humor is absolutely essential to whether the reader will experience surprise and amusement upon the arrival at the failed expectation. I could. I could say those things. I could fill the page with boring words about a funny topic, but I won't. Author E. B. White (that's him right there) once said that, "Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind."Comedy is an art. What's funny about a joke is not its construction, no more than what's beautiful about a Monet Water lily is the artist's obsessive brush cleaning. What I guess I'm saying is this: it was a horrible question for a comedy post, and I'm ashamed. It's not funny at all. Like I said, diminished. So Mark, you ask. Where can I go to get funny? Well...I don't know that you can. The stork doesn't tuck funny into Mommy's popo, people. This is learned behavior, or more likely a specific cumulative perspective that may be a bit "off." If you share that perspective with others, you've got a leg up. If not, there are plenty of jokes online. I will tell you where you can find it. Comedy is in the timing (or the often humiliating lack of it), in understatement, sarcasm and irony. It hides in deliberate ambiguity, embarrassment, being a fish out of water, and finally, dicks and farts (but never penises and flatulence, because those just aren't amusing, at all--except when they are). Bringing it all back to comedy in urban fantasy, I think when we talk about the two together we're really talking about snark, sarcasm, and a smart ass hero or heroine. This is how it's been for awhile, with few exceptions. That's why I wrote HAPPY HOUR, I wanted to write something with actual comedy elements, setups, and pay offs. I wanted to take urban fantasy characters and make them more like us, clueless, clutzy, and mistake-ridden, even the villains. I hope I've succeeded, because, to me, that shit is funny. So. That's it. My first rambling stream of consciousness post here with the League of Reluctant Adults. I'm not even sure I answered the question, or if I'm even qualified. After all, I'm not in the least bit funny. Now, I'm exhausted. I've put far too much thought into a post about comedy. Do you see what I do for you people? Now, on to what you can do for me * ahem * for us. Us. I'm ready to dust off my prettiest pair of man-panties and be pimped out. As repayment for being my pimp, you may receive this awesome prize package...  Ooo. A signed HAPPY HOUR cover flat (this one's a proof, no blurbs, totally collectible), a copy of everyone's favorite zomedy, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, and probably the most fantastic item of all, a Bop and Beep UglyDoll key chain (made in China, so keep it away from you kids, lest Darwinism go into effect). Once you've completed your pimpage, make sure to come back and comment to be entered into the drawing. Pimp away! |
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First to comment! First to pimp! Makes a girl early, surly and wise! (No clue, it should sounded good.) And I hope no stork was trying to shove anything up my mommy's popo when I was in there... but then again, it could explain alot.
Anyway, enjoyed your article! And I liked the big 'boring' words you used in the beginning, but I am a nerd.
http://mela-lyn.livejournal.com/
How did you get so awesome?
My mommy didn't let any zombies or storks near her when she had me...
And you'd better read my post. I made it all pretty just for you! And i don't even know you... I feel dirty...
My LJ was praising the blog first thing this mroning. Of course, I think you, Strout and my fiancee are the only ones that read it, so I'm not sure how that will work.
I have an audience of maybe 7 myself, but hey, I'm all about fun prizes and seeing Mark in his underwear, which... um, no, maybe not that. Oi. *insert foot to mouth*
You guys just talk amongst yourselves. I'll be over here by the bleachers.
Mark, I pimped you! :) - sassyjinx@LJ
You have just been Pimped!
Thanks Wendy and Stacey. You Rock!
Ha! I have now pimped Mark!! The money will surely start rolling in!! Right?
sadieloree@lj
You've been pimped!
http://shay-writes.livejournal.com/11382.html
I must say, I'm enjoying all the pimpery. I'm just going to have to run to the drugstore for a hemheroid donut. I'll be right back.
Oh good... now we can talk about you behind your back. Hahaha... what?
I'm sorry, I've been spam happy. Can't seem to help it. I think zombies ate my brains. I couldn't do anything else today!
Consider yourself pimped. And funny. I'll be back for me!
I have no idea what that green thing is, but me wants! :-)
Have a lovely day! :-)
Pimped at http://tezmilleroz.livejournal.com/20347.html
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=191425349&blogID=311594948&Mytoken=1DBC401B-9975-4ECB-BD662447B7B8203C30256201
http://tezmilleroz.blogspot.com/2007/09/me-pimp-you-ho.html
Have a lovely day! :-)
Love the blog!! I'd pimp ya, but I have no freakin' idea what that is. Stop making fun of the technological dinosaur, I figured out how to turn the computer on at least.
'To pimp', or 'to make Mark walk like the horse and not the cowboy', is to spread the word about the blog and the authors so people can read said blog and said authors' books to allow them the fan base to continue writing so we rabid fans can continue to stalk, harass, beg, plead and laugh with them. :) Oh, and so you can get the hat. There's always a hat involved and it's big. And probably has feathers.
I pimped everyone in a single post. I don't even know if it counts?
http://janicu.vox.com/library/post/the-league-of-reluctant-adults.html
me like brains, me like funny, me pimp book. see http://thebookbogan.blogspot.com/
Cheers dude!
Thanks Janice. It absolutely counts.
Steff, you're to good to me.
that's supposed to be "too". me kan rights gud!