As a film scholar I have become intrigued with Humor studies. Yes. The actually study of why we laugh. Just sent in a proposal to the Academy of Motion Pictures for a grant, on the subject of humor and gendered identities in film, so cross your fingers!
Okay, to have a sense of humor or wit is a pretty big deal. But, when you think about it, humor is also pretty complex. Interpersonally it helps us see another point of view, take ourselves less seriously, break the stress, and offer relief from the 'real' stuff. Humor, is often the basis for breaking boundaries and disregarding conventions. Humor can simply make us laugh collectively, and yet can sometimes be cruel and misguided, purely meant to boost up a groups self-identity. There is satire, farce, stand-up, on and on. The film Election from day 9, a satire, takes multiple stabs at political competition in general but did so through the guise of high school politics. That film was beautifully written, full of innuendos, sometimes hidden. The type of humor I want to profile today, my favorite type at the moment, is humor that straddles the boundaries between stereotypes and social power. Key and Peele, in this scene exploit elite culture, social customs and established convention because they deal head on with an unconventional topic of humor and in a totally unexpected way. It is purely farce, but ah, so good. This summer I discovered the pair, Key and Peele. Although I had seen the delicious pair on Mad-TV, my daughter, Jacqueline, really got me excited bout them, with this clip. You have probably already seen it. Jacqueline, told me to watch it, because kids at school were starting to call her Jake-wallin.
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