The Writer's E-Zine Home

Writers' Village University - F2K: Free Fiction Writing Course - ePress-online
Writers' Village University Membership Information

Humor: Torment Behind the Art

Edward L. Flaim

In last month's column I wrote of the conflict between humor and political correctness. This was intentionally misleading, as all genres of art undergo this conflict. Joyce's Ulysses encountered problems upon publication and still faces problems in many school districts. In Minnesota some districts removed it from their libraries, as well as such perverse literature as J. D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye and Grimm's Fairy Tales. The banning of such literary works of art led to a lawsuit demanding that, if the school boards removed the aforementioned books from the library shelves, the boards should remove the Bible as well. The named Plaintiff did not expect to prevail in this lawsuit. Nor did he wish to prevail. He considered the Bible a literary as well as a religious masterpiece. He was merely demonstrating that one person's definition of truth and excellence was another person's definition of lies and trash. The Bible remained on bookshelves, as it properly should. However, the school boards reinstated the books previously banned. Thus, this lawsuit prevented the modern equivalent of book burning

Writing humor is serious and tormenting business. P.G. Wodehouse's works made "Jeeves" the universal butler. His writing is so flawless that few people realize each of his novels required voluminous outlines that exceeded the pages of many novels. Wodehouse sweated over his works so that we, as readers, would see only a seamless masterpiece. We think that humorous fiction and often children's fiction must be easy to create. However, both require all the elements—point of view, character, plot, etc.—that is required of any work of fiction. It appears easy only because of the talent of its authors.

Humor is everywhere. As with any work of fiction, though, it demands that we find and write for the appropriate audience. I find humor, often unintentionally and poorly portrayed, in television advertisements. We all remember Burger King was responsible for Clara proclaiming "Where's the beef?" However, what corporation was behind the advertisement, "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" This advertisement became a universal joke with few remembering the name of the product it intended to sell. The humor, completely unintentional, transcended its purpose, that is, to purchase a product that no one can recall.

Lately I've become enthralled with the HoverRound powered wheelchair. I can ride it anywhere, including to the edge of the Grand Canyon! Amazing! I see this old couple at one of the many ledges of the Grand Canyon, smiling at their newfound mobility. I also see them pushing the wrong buttons and shooting over the ledge, speaking with each other as they plummet a few thousand feet or so, saying "Thanks a lot, you bastards! I didn't think mobility included flight plans!" The camera fades out, with a voice play over of "Hey Clara! There's the beef!"

Although this advertisement is ridiculous, it serves its purpose. My flights of fantasy do not intrude on its message and "HoverRound, HoverRound, HoverRound" spins round and round in my mind.

Is there a message here? I believe so. Know your audience. Humor addressed to the NAACP would not be effective if presented to the KKK. Why anyone would want to address the KKK is beyond me. However, if you find yourself in Mississippi—and to be fair to Mississippi, the Klan is everywhere—surrounded by white-hooded imbeciles, do not refer to the Grand Wizard and Kleegle as ridiculous titles that only the mentally defective would consider an honor. Unless, of course, you have a death wish that entails lynching and burning crosses.

So we now know the obvious. All writing is directed toward an audience. The next question is who is our intended audience? Is our humor directed toward the educated elite whom Dennis Miller enthralls? Or to the everyman? I'll reserve that for next month's column.

I'm always open to suggestions, thoughts and ideas. If you should wish to contact me on areas you wish to discuss, feel free to email me at Ed@wvu.org  Doesn't mean I'll do a thing about it, for despite my desire to be omniscient, I am not.

About the Author
Ed was born in 1950. He entered the world butt-first and has since viewed the world primarily through this vertical eye. As most of those who survived the turbulent sixties, he faced several choices: death, prison, insanity or law. He chose both law and insanity. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1984 after touring the world's asylums.

He was a well-established and recognized practitioner when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993. He continued to actively practice law until 1998, when his physical and mental condition said, "Screw this," and he returned to Maryland. In Maryland he vegetated until he came upon WVU and attempted to write fiction.

Ed has published hundreds if not thousands of his writings. That's only because every document he has ever filed with the courts is considered published. Thus far, publishers have been kind and printed one of his 300 story submissions. He's waiting anxiously to see what will happen with number 301, hoping it might bring him wealth and fame like Stephen King. Or at the very least, a cookie.