Simon is a Canadian comic with a particular talent for going places that scare the shit out of most of us. He looks into the shadows and finds the humor. From my perspective, that’s the kind of mind that deserves our respect, admiration, and gratitude. Sometimes, laughter is the only antidote to despair, so I consider Simon to be something like a hospice nurse. However I go out, I hope I manage to choke out a chuckle at the beautiful absurdity of it all.
"Live every day as if it's your last one." Now there's good advice.
We usually laugh to release some form of tension. That's one reason people like laughing. So I think much of the best comedy addresses itself to areas surrounded by tension in society, such as taboos.
This is also a good guide to explaining what amounts to swearing in a given language (culture) & what doesn't. Pretty clear that body parts & functions are a real hit in Anglosaxon culture (shit, pissed me off, cocksucker, dick, etc etc). In Latin culture you'll probably get good mileage with religious themes.
I grew up in working-class Canada & naturally used "fuck" as noun, verb, adjective & punctuation. I still use it, but not Nearly as much, not because I'm "more mature" (I'm not) but because after a while ANY word gets tiresome (NB CR).
Interesting that "motherfucker" still has the power to shock the Brits, while "cunt" is liberally used by Brits (especially angry male ones).
OK, here's a joke:
A couple are walking down the street in London. The woman says to her husband “Wait, isn’t that the Archbishop of Canterbury across the street?”
Her husband: “Could be. I’ll go & ask him.” He crosses the street.
When he returns, his wife asks him: “What did he say?”
Very enjoyable discussion. Simon's attempt to guide his audience to agree with something they shouldn't reminded me of this clip I just recently watched. Incredible this is 50 years old.
Hilarious comedy clip. Agree, hard to believe that is already 50 yrs old. The entire Canadian Parliament just tried to trick the entire country into applauding the SS and it wasn't comedy and it was not funny (just saying). Cheers.
This reminds me of when I was a student in Germany (almost 50 years ago...) & was having a rather stilted conversation with a few older Germans. We were discussing the different ways in different languages of saying "Cheers!" before a drink. One lady, who I think was either a born iconoclast or going a trifle gaga, just remarked "We used to say Heil Hitler." [stunned silence]
Good episode. I relate to what you he said about doing something that you love and wanting to quit it. You get to a point in which what you see doesn't make sense, but I guess that's how many people reach their enlightenment. Going through that process helps one look for perspectives in hopes to find ways to still do that one way or another, avoiding the end. Loved your comment on Spanish cursing - In PR we have variations of many of those with our own sabor. It was fascinating to hear about the creative process of writing comedy. Thanks for sharing.
"Live every day as if it's your last one." Now there's good advice.
We usually laugh to release some form of tension. That's one reason people like laughing. So I think much of the best comedy addresses itself to areas surrounded by tension in society, such as taboos.
This is also a good guide to explaining what amounts to swearing in a given language (culture) & what doesn't. Pretty clear that body parts & functions are a real hit in Anglosaxon culture (shit, pissed me off, cocksucker, dick, etc etc). In Latin culture you'll probably get good mileage with religious themes.
I grew up in working-class Canada & naturally used "fuck" as noun, verb, adjective & punctuation. I still use it, but not Nearly as much, not because I'm "more mature" (I'm not) but because after a while ANY word gets tiresome (NB CR).
Interesting that "motherfucker" still has the power to shock the Brits, while "cunt" is liberally used by Brits (especially angry male ones).
OK, here's a joke:
A couple are walking down the street in London. The woman says to her husband “Wait, isn’t that the Archbishop of Canterbury across the street?”
Her husband: “Could be. I’ll go & ask him.” He crosses the street.
When he returns, his wife asks him: “What did he say?”
“He said: Bugger off!!”
“Oh dear, what a pity. Now we shall never know.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGxyGJ-xQA&ab_channel=BBCRadio4
Very enjoyable discussion. Simon's attempt to guide his audience to agree with something they shouldn't reminded me of this clip I just recently watched. Incredible this is 50 years old.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/n0fvtI_B9o4
Hilarious comedy clip. Agree, hard to believe that is already 50 yrs old. The entire Canadian Parliament just tried to trick the entire country into applauding the SS and it wasn't comedy and it was not funny (just saying). Cheers.
"So viele alte Kameraden!" LOL
This reminds me of when I was a student in Germany (almost 50 years ago...) & was having a rather stilted conversation with a few older Germans. We were discussing the different ways in different languages of saying "Cheers!" before a drink. One lady, who I think was either a born iconoclast or going a trifle gaga, just remarked "We used to say Heil Hitler." [stunned silence]
Good episode. I relate to what you he said about doing something that you love and wanting to quit it. You get to a point in which what you see doesn't make sense, but I guess that's how many people reach their enlightenment. Going through that process helps one look for perspectives in hopes to find ways to still do that one way or another, avoiding the end. Loved your comment on Spanish cursing - In PR we have variations of many of those with our own sabor. It was fascinating to hear about the creative process of writing comedy. Thanks for sharing.
Please get some podcasts recorded with family members while they're in town! Sending Love <3