Slapstick Ethics

[Yin Yang]

My family just recently gained custody of my six year old cousin, Joey. Joey came from a rough background. He's been exposed to much violence, both at home, and at school . Anyway, I was talking to my mother, about what might influence children to become violent. And she complained about actions in certain television shows. Like, "Drake and Josh", in which there is slapstick. I replied that I do not believe that we clowns, including Auguste, are responsible for fighting. Like I do not think that our throwing pies will make children want to throw stones at each other. But what is the line in how far we can go with physical comedy? How can we show people that violence is foolish, and not fun?

[Wowza]

Others on the forum will undoubtedly be able to give more historical insight into slapstick and that particular vein of comedy, but I did want to touch base on something.

I think that slapstick is the ultimate way to counter violence. Children imitate what they see only when it has a desirable outcome. Slapstick produces no such outcome. Clowns continue to hit or be hit, and the argument or discussion continues, eventually boiling into nonsense. Nothing is to be gained by it, and therein lies the beauty.

My wife and I watched the latest Rambo movie over the weekend. I (yes, me, a conservative 33-year-old, gun owning, heterosexual male raised with a strong male role-model) was appalled at the violence in the film. There was blood and gore for the sake of blood and gore, and it had no redeeming impact on the film. It seems to me that Hollywood continues to push the line of what is acceptable, and sheeple continue to buy into it. More vulgar language, more full-frontal nudity, more gratuitous sex, more blood and gore and violence. It leads to a desensitization, so that it is what we come to expect rather than something that is shocking. That is a sad commentary.

I think that, ultimately, parents need to exercise a greater degree of control in what their children are exposed to. Instead of blaming other people, you can make a decision about how your family will handle this kind of thing. If physical violence is never acceptable, then no amount of slapstick comedy will change that.

Wowza is now dismounting the soap box. We now resume your regularly scheduled broadcast.

[Happy Chappy & Daisy]

Originally Posted by Wowza

My wife and I watched the latest Rambo movie over the weekend. I (yes, me, a conservative 33-year-old, gun owning, heterosexual male raised with a strong male role-model) was appalled at the violence in the film. There was blood and gore for the sake of blood and gore, and it had no redeeming impact on the film. It seems to me that Hollywood continues to push the line of what is acceptable, and sheeple continue to buy into it. More vulgar language, more full-frontal nudity, more gratuitous sex, more blood and gore and violence. It leads to a desensitization, so that it is what we come to expect rather than something that is shocking. That is a sad commentary.

Wowza, please tell me that the movie doesn't feature Sylvester Stallone naked. *suppresses shudder*

Beyond a doubt, the mass media pushes the envelope, and does as much as they can get away with. I remember hearing about a brand-new cartoon called "South Park." I watched about 30 seconds of the first episode before changing the channel. I remember traveling with the kids, not that long ago, and flipping through channels at a motel. HBO had a "documentary" about the porno industry, and showed things that normally would be rated X. FX was showing "Nip/Tuck," where two clearly 100% naked actors were doing a believable performance of sexual activity, and there were two or three other scenes like that before we got to Nick at Nite.

Two clowns hitting each other with pies is so much more acceptable. Not only is there no real injury, but there is not even a simulation of injury. Give me the Three Stooges any day!

[Scruffy]

This also could be a good opportunity to teach children what is real and what isn't. Show them what they see isn't what is happening and that the clowns aren't really touching each other or getting hurt.

[Sassy Frass]

That is a good point Boss...

[Paboberto]

Children need no encouragement to be violent. It comes quite naturally. In fact without learning about the effects of violence through play, a person is much more likely to be dangerously violent when they grow up.

I think kids see slapstick as a game because manifestly no one gets seriously hurt while there is a lot of action. I doubt the fire house gag has ever made anyone want to beat someone up, like say, 300 doees. If they try and replicate it (or a three stooges gag) they will quickly find out how hard it is to time right and give up pretty quickly. (or at least me and my brother did )

Play, Spirit, and Character [Speaking of Faith® from American Public Media]

[pixcoco]

While working in the hospital (we worked in pairs) we could tell by the reaction of the child that violence was way to much in his/her life. We would edit our bit to be violence free. Normally we kick a lot of, well you know. Most kids think this is funny and would set my partner up for me to kick him. We did however discover that he should not kick me. A man kicking a woman was NOT funny.

If you watch your audiance carefully you can see what is acceptiable.

[Squiggles]

I have the magic teapot...and it uses water and silks and if my silks get wet they fade..any way to keep them from fading and how do u get the wrinkles out of them? Thanks!

[Fitzwilly]

How are you handling the trick so that your silks are getting wet Squig?

If you want to take the time you can iron them.