Thoughts from Madison Nef
You may have noticed the title change of the paper- it’s only for this one chapter. In this chapter, Yutang talks about the importance of laughter and how it is used in life. He made a good point in the first paragraph about how so many dignitaries and leaders of countries always come off as serious- in pictures, they are never seen smiling or laughing but instead frowning or staring blankly at the camera/painter with no emotion at all. He makes it a point to say that almost all dignitaries do this- except for American presidents. Yutang says that he feels that maybe American citizens like to see their president smile, so therefore he smiles- but surely other countries want to see their leader happy as well!
I think the reason that more presidents smile is because our citizens have a higher amount of trust in the government than in other places. Since the president feels we already look up to and respect him, he feels no need to put on an intimidation act for us and is free to be himself, smiling and happy. Who wouldn’t be happy to be the president? Maybe in other countries, people don’t look up to their rulers in the same way and so the rulers feel that to get any respect, they must intimidate. This would account for all the sour faces and stiff, frowning and emotionless portraits.
Laughing is a very large part of life, from the day we are born until the day we die. Laughing is a response often to joy or humor, but it is also a coping mechanism when one feels down or upset. Another theory states that laughter is a nervous reaction- for example, when a joke is told in a room of people it creates an inconsistency. Automatically the human brain will try to figure out what the inconsistency is, and upon realizing that it is harmless it will cause a person to laugh in relief. As Mack Sennet (actor and “King of Comedy” of his time) said, “when the audience is confused, it doesn’t laugh”.
In the end, I think it all comes down to acting and how much you want people to fear and respect you. Yutang says in the chapter that the best thing he had ever read about Hitler was that while he looked stern and strict in pictures and when delivering speeches, he was quite himself otherwise and was actually humorous. To keep fear in people, I think Hitler acted serious and grumpy- who wants to listen to or be afraid of someone who is always smiling and happy? That would be like fearing Santa Claus!
Yutang goes on to say that if the world’s greatest rulers were humorists, the world would be extremely peaceful- because with humor comes good sense and a reasonable spirit. Therefore, countries would be ruled by the calmest and logical people, and wars would not happen. To demonstrate his point, Yutang says to imagine a humorist representing the leaders of each country and putting them in a room together. No matter HOW HARD THEY TRIED, they would not be able to come up with a plan of war- they would be too light-hearted, happy, and calm.
I quite agree- if there was more humor in the world, it WOULD be a better place. Too often people are afraid to laugh and let their real spirits show for the fear of criticism, or loss of respect. In the end… who cares what other people think of you? Even if you are a dignitary… you shouldn’t have to put on an act. If people voted you in on account of your acting, then maybe you aren’t fit to be a dignitary at all. If you are going to try for something, try as yourself- not as the image that everyone wants to see.
Leave me a comment telling me your opinions on this… I’m done speaking mine.
Maddie
No comments:
Post a Comment