|
Home / Culture and Society
Is This Funny: Can We Develop Non-Violent Humour?
By:Ivana Milojević
“In its original historical meaning, a cartoon (from the Italian cartone, meaning "big paper") is a full-size drawing made on paper as a study for a further artwork, such as a painting or tapestry. In modern print media, a cartoon is an illustration, usually humorous in intent.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoons
The current representation of conflict over the freedom to publish cartoons featuring the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in western media – as the conflict between ‘freedom of speech and expression’ and Muslim sensitivities - obscures what is really going on at the deepest level of our collective global psyche.
I strongly believe that the publication of the infamous cartoons in Danish Jyllands-Posten was very little about the "ongoing debate on freedom of expression that we cherish so highly", as argued by the editors. While I think that freedom of expression, speech and press is one of the greatest human accomplishments, these freedoms should be protected where and when possible and sensible but not ‘at all costs’.
That higher principles take precedence over human life is one of the central tenants of society build on hierarchical and patriarchal values. The central tenant of a society build on values of centrality of human (and human - nature) relatedness is to take seriously concerns and interests of global human community, as well as the non-human community, future generations of people and other living beings.
What is considered funny is always premised on the underlying worldview. For example, for a racist joke to be seen as funny, racism has to be an underlying worldview, we have to have an ‘inner racist’ within us. The joke about the difference between a blonde and a shopping trolley (a shopping trolley has a mind of its own) is only funny if we still have some elements of sexism within us (as most of us, raised and living in patriarchal societies almost inevitably do).
If on the other hand, the underlying worldview is the desire to negotiate - to work things out - with ‘the other’ you become sensitive about what you can say, when and where about such group. You are also careful about what type of behaviours you choose to engage in, preferring those that don’t reaffirm various forms of direct, structural, cultural, epistemological and ecological violence.
Non-violent communication and humour
If jokes that deal in ‘bigotry, sexism, racism, ageism and all the other politically incorrect isms’ are the quintessential expression of bigoted, sexist, racist, orientalist, ageist and politically incorrect/hierarchically structured and (using Riane Eisler’s term) ‘dominator’ society, what type of jokes would a fundamentally different society with a fundamentally different underlying worldview produce? For example, what would humour be like in a society in which cultures of peace, compassion and non-violent communication are firmly embedded?
Perhaps:
1. People own up of their own ‘stuff’. There is an awareness of one’s own agenda, underlying worldview, assumptions, perceptions, fears, beliefs about self and others is present. There is also an awareness and understanding about what kind of actions may have certain (violence promoting) consequences.
2. There is an overall understanding that your speech can be part of the problem or part of the solution. That is, that your speech can be expression of verbal aggression or an expression of desire to negotiate and ‘work things out’.
3. Humour becomes a means of reducing inflated individual and collective Ego, thus you engage in laughing at self and your own group more often then in laughing at her/him/them. You also do the later, if you must, in a safe space – verbally, with ‘your own’, removed from the eyes and ears of her/him/them.
4. Reducing your own Ego also means that you don’t identify so much with certain dogmatic principles and rules that help define your own individual and collective identity. That is, you take offence against yourself and your own group as lightly as possible. And, most importantly of all, you don’t respond to one type of (ie. epistemological, cultural) violence with even more intense one (ie. physical, direct violence).
5. Humour becomes a means of destabilising centres of oppressive political, cultural, epistemological, economic and military power – and hopefully a means that can help create a world without institutionalised violence and social injustice. Apparently, the Muslim world is full of Mullah jokes, and as far as I know, portraying Mullahs is not seen as out of bounds by the majority of Muslims. Such a simple editorial intervention could have spared many grievances and intense escalation of violence and still enable expression of the ‘freedom to speak’, to express true feelings.
6. There is a consultation with local groups, and various minorities (ethnic, religious, gender) in terms of the boundaries of free speech.
7. You manage to differentiate between different humour styles, e.g. between a ‘Joy Master’, ‘Joke Maker’, ‘Fun Meister’ and ‘Life Mocker’ (Loomans and Kolberg, 1993. p. 15). While the Joy Master has mostly positive qualities, is inspiring, inclusive, warm hearted, innocent, humanising and healing (ibid.) Life Mocker has mostly negative qualities, and is cynical, sarcastic, exclusive, cold hearted, worldly and dehumanising (ibid.). The positive sides of a Joke Maker (e.g. wordplay, teaching stories, parody, instructive, insightful) and Fun Meister (slapstick, clowning, naive, imitative, entertaining) are to be balanced with their negative qualities (JM: insulting, biting, satiric, stereotyping, destructive; FM: ridiculing, dark humour, tragedy and suffering, hurtful, degrading) (ibid.).
Whatever the societal principles, the main issue is what is the spirit behind humour? Is it to put down others and get back at them, in one way or another, or to create new depths of mutual understanding and compassion?
Creatively, compassionately and honestly dealing with the current conflict over values, freedoms and humour at the global level has become the necessity of our times. It is only by these means that we could possibly hope to avoid a further escalation of violence and also to protect all our freedoms
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: cartoon controversy, Prophet Mohammed, free speech, religion, tolerance
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Ivana Milojević is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the School of Education, the University of Queensland, Australia. You can read more of her articles at www.metafuture.org (including the longer article from which this is excerpted)
|
|
| Top Culture and Society Articles |
- 1). The Controversy Over Roadside Field Sobriety Tests By : Lance Knowlton
Copyright 2006 Lance Knowlton
Roadside field sobriety tests (FSTs), developed at the behest of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are commonly employed by police officers during DUI stops to determine whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol.
FSTs generally consist of a battery of three to five exercises, such as walking and turning in a different direction, standing on one leg, nystagmus (using the eyes to track an object), touching the finger to the nose and reciting the alphabet.
|
- 2). Recognizing The Signs Of Alcohol Abuse By : Aurel Radulescu
Alcohol abuse, or alcoholism, is a serious illness that often requires immediate treatment. Not everyone knows what to look for in terms of alcohol abuse, but the truth is that there are very definitive signs that can quickly confirm the need for treatment.
Many alcoholics drink because they are angry or sad, but often end up feeling guilty either while they are drinking or after the effects wear off.
|
- 3). Know Your Personality Type By : CD Mohatta
Our world is made of all kinds of persons. Some do things as they have been done since ages. They talk, react, judge and act exactly as they have seen and taught. These kinds of people hate original and new ideas calling them dangerous for the world. On the other side of the spectrum are people who live life dangerously. They want to break every convention, every rule and live life on their own terms.
|
- 4). Are You A Potential Crime Victim? By : Joseph Garrio
I've been in law enforcement for 17 years and have a great deal of experience working in the street and dealing with the common problems and crimes of the average person. This article addresses the common crimes that are occuring to people when removed from their homes. This is to make you aware of them and how to reduce your chances of becoming a victim.
|
- 5). Year in review - Top 12 News stories of 2005 By : paul wilson1
As yet another New Year dawns, it is time for us to look back on 2005 and view from the outside all that happened. There were joys, triumphs, and tears. That everything that happens is a learning experience is quite true.
Among the many occurrences of 2005 news stories that were significant were:
1. Google made history in June 2005 as its share price made it the most highly valued media company.
|
- 6). Guide to terrorism and world markets By : Mansi gupta
What worse could have happened to the US economy then the 9th September 2001? Some perverted religious fanatics demolished the embodiment of the world trade. Terrorism is a threat to all the nations of the world. The human loss due to these activities cannot be condemned with words. The ruthlessness of the terror traders has an impact on each and every segment of life.
|
- 7). Everything You Do Is Right Day By : CD Mohatta
16th March is celebrated as the day when whatever you do is right. This is a very exciting thought. I searched for the origin but could not find any clue about how this day began. What precisely does this mean - Everything you do is right.
Let me put my ideas across about this day. In our everyday life whenever we do anything, it can be called right or wrong.
|
- 8). Is This Funny: Can We Develop Non-Violent Humour? By : Ivana Milojević
“In its original historical meaning, a cartoon (from the Italian cartone, meaning "big paper") is a full-size drawing made on paper as a study for a further artwork, such as a painting or tapestry. In modern print media, a cartoon is an illustration, usually humorous in intent.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoons
The current representation of conflict.
|
- 9). Is There Income After Peak Oil And Economic Collapse? There Is If You're Clever. By : Mick Winter
Many predict that the world will soon experience an economic depression, brought on by a variety of factors, but most particularly Peak Oil - the lessening production of petroleum. (For full information on Peak Oil, see Dry Dipstick - www.drydipstick.com)
No matter what happens to the economy, you'll probably still need income. Work continues even in hard times.
|
- 10). Escorts Bartering : A Great Way to an Additional Income By : Ispas Marin
When it comes to escorts you should think that they can have a quite different way to make some extra income. I call this bartering. you can think about bartering as a way to get some goods and services at some very cheap ways. It's known that everybody has needs and so do escorts. In almost all the cases this needs that can turn in goods or services are easily procured trough bartering far below what the cost would be for cash.
|
| New Culture and Society Articles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 7). Go Celestial with the Celestron Telescope CPC 8 By : Anne Noonan
The Celestron telescope cpc 8 is a high-end professional model with many great features for an exquisite look at the heavens.
Its formal name is Celestron CPC 800 Professional Computerized Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope. This Celestron telescope cpc 8 offers easy and quick alignment and GPS, with quality of optics that is unbeatable. Set up is fast and easy, and the Celestron cpc8 is made for ergonomically correct study of the star.
|
- 8). Best Rated Gas Grills Under $300 By : Judy Simpson
The first of the best rated gas grills under $300 is the Brinkman Pro Series 2210. A very basic grill, it offers a 636 total square inch area for cooking, which is very large in comparison to most in this price range. Its 12000 btu burning capacity is not that powerful, but it does offer three burners.
While the cart on this gas bbq is not as sturdy as it could be the burners are made of cast iron and should last a very long time.
|
- 9). Best Prom Dress By : Kent Pinkerton
Prom night is the most exciting night of high school life-and the most looked forward to. It is the night for dressing up in your best attire and creating an impression that would last as long as your childhood memories. Dressing up for the prom night is every girl's dream.
Prom dresses are generally formal party gowns, long and delicately stunning.
|
- 10). Has TV helped the Online Psychic Readings Industry ? By : moonwhisper
Moonwhisper.com as well as many other psychic reading websites has proven that the internet is a viable venue for professional psychics to display their services and provide an obviously very lucrative service to the major players in the online psychic reading industry. With an increasing demand for high quality and affordable psychic advice rising daily smaller websites are finding it easier to break into this niche market and take psychic service promotions to the next level with a complete line of co branded services on the web.
|
|
|
