[lit-ideas] Re: Laugh Tracks

Kristallnacht I think means night of the broken glass. Crystal, kristall. It's like saying 9/11 has nothing to do with the emergency response number 911. Correct, it doesn't, but the irony of the date is I'm sure lost on no one.
Coincidence is not irony. As far as I can tell, 'Kristallnacht' was not an ordinary German word until after 9-10 November 1938, when Jews were attacked, synagogues and Jewis-owned businesses destroyed, and tens of thousands of Jews deported. Several sources say that it was also called the 'Novemberpogram.' My point here was merely semantic though; the word does not refer to 'broken' glass, even though it was the litter of smashed windows that led to the name. 'Kristallnacht' is a historical word, somewhat like 'fat man,' and 'little boy,' which before atom bombs were dropped on Japan were expressions that had no sinister implications.
As far as people not being prompted to laugh when they read, mostly they don't read. When they do read it's of the Stephen King variety. No need to laugh at that. Comedy movies are increasingly of the Animal House, not exactly high brow variety. I rent comedy DVD's with great trepidation, always prepared to be really disappointed, but sometimes they come through. Those who attend plays might be a cut above the sheeple. But, even places like Lincoln Center are dumbing down more and more to attract market share. They're not raising standards to attract anyone.
Well, right. Fewer and fewer people (I'm told) read now. But this does not address my point: people who laugh at things they read need no apparatus outside the text to point out to them that they should laugh. I'm not sure what's on at Lincoln Center, except a highly praised revival of South Pacific. I like South Pacific. Liked it sixty years ago on the LP. Like it now. 'There is nothing like a dame,' is far superior to any Mozart aria.
The bottom line is, if people didn't need to be cued, or if management didn't think they needed to be cued, they wouldn't be. Why else are there laugh tracks? I know in game shows they supposedly hold up signs for the audience that say laugh, clap, etc. Did you ever watch the dumbest of the dumb game show, at least that I've seen, Deal or No Deal? Boy is it dumb, pure emotional guesswork. I'm surprised Jeopardy is still on the air. They still attract an audience so maybe things aren't completely hopeless.
I love 'Deal or No Deal.' It is a continuing series of lessons in the psychology of decision making, and statistical illiteracy.
If Chris Bruce or Professor Henninge would like to correct my guesses about German words, that would be welcome. I'm trying to find the first reference (or some very early references) to 'Kristallnacht.' 

Robert Paul
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