[lit-ideas] Re: Laugh Tracks
- From: Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:47:17 -0700
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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