Brand New Jokes, Same Old Theories

The creation of the modern “easy” video distribution model has led to many “unrestricted” viral sketch comedy videos hitting the Internet. I would attempt to argue that modern viral videos apply elements of centuries-old theories to create comedic moments, elements which have been applied to a lesser-degree in mainstream media for decades. Naturally, many have argued that dissecting humor immediate removes the comedic value, thus rendering any advanced analysis fruitless. Towards these valid, but open-ended arguments, I wish to submit the following rebuttal: It’s flipping easy, and I’ve got the cashed checks to prove it. By using the applied studies of theorists such as Marx, Freud, and others, formulae for creating comedic moments can be made, and can be applied to create new humorous sketches.

The old joke of portraying figureheads behaving in farcical manners, can be viewed as more than just silly. When a public figure is portrayed as both nutty and abusive of power, they are illustrating the extreme ends to which the bourgeois can oppress the commoners. Marx passionately argued against this type of power abuse, and furthermore argued that it can be manifested in many types of governments. The above short illustrates the hidden power of the ruling class in democracy. Notice the strong Marxist symbolism when John Wilkes Booth finally “rises up” and defeats the ruling class with a hammer.

While the discredited volumes of Freud are veritably mountainous, there’s comedy gold in them thar’ hills. In fact, the Freudian defense mechanism of repression, particularly hetero- and homosexual repression, is almost always sound fodder for a comedic premise. The simple manifestation of unconscious desire, or a verbal spillage of the unconscious can almost always bring laughs if delivered correctly. In addition, the general acceptance of applied psychology, which Freud helped pioneer, has led to many skits and scenes with the main premise of psychological testing.

It’s not just these founding theorists who can be used to create humor. Most modern theories, if stark and depressing enough, can be twisted to create a comedic flow. The speculations on the extreme drive of business-driven greed, most notably by Todd Gitlin, has been parodied in modern media for decades. In fact, this notion is often spoofed by the media itself, such as in this classic sketch where the talk show host feels only for ratings. In fact, simply having outlandish characters ignore human perils and common convention in search of profit is frequently the fodder for popular viral sketch videos.

Though comedic presentation is an art form, by juxtaposing exaggerated theories of power and repression with modern inconveniences, a practically timeless formula for humor creation is revealed. Naturally, a bit of joke writing is needed, but these applications have been proven for decades of broadcast sketch comedy. With the introduction of the home video studio revolution, it is possible to distribute even more stark exaggerations and examinations of modern life, without the sharp restrictions of the broadcast regulatory agencies. This could lead to a revolution in more than just video distribution, perhaps the very limit in our ability to be self-expressive and comment socially is loosening.