Priceless Humor is Priceless!
03/17/09
For centuries stories have been told and retold throughout the world. How come? Because they are entertaining, for one thing. Another reason is that they deal with the human condition, one way or another. Even animal characters in stories act out the situations of our own humanity.
The struggles of life have been with us for centuries as well. Conflict. Famine. Thorny relationships. All of which beg for some direction, some assistance. A resolution of some sort.
At the same time, nobody likes to be preached to. We desire to sweeten our bitter medicines. Enter laughter. It is the honey in the brew. Witty humor is priceless humor. An awesome blend of entertainment and enlightenment.
As you know, everyone loves to laugh. Laughter takes the sting out of life. And everyone loves to laugh at the foibles of our own species (as long as it happens at the expense of another). Call it priceless humor.
Look around you at the great humorists. Dave Barry. George Carlin. Garrison Kiellor. Check out the humorists of history. Moliere. Henry Fielding All of them were storytellers. Painting scenes with priceless humor.
Priceless humor... what makes it priceless? The answer is simple. Priceless humor involves situations which most of us have experienced. The lost keys. The comic situation. The laughable consequences generally follow in quick succession.
The world of urban folktales is a rich source of priceless humor. My CD Parking in Manhattan illustrates many humorous circumstances. Folks can relate to and empathize with the characters involved in these hilarious comedies. Priceless situations create priceless humor.
You can also find many examples of priceless humor in world stories. These stories always bring gales of laughter when they are told. Check out "Rock Soup" or "Herschel in the Woods" from my CD Fables in Four Minutes. My CD World Full of Stories has many examples a listener can enjoy. There are many similar examples of priceless humor from virtually every country on the planet. These stories will stick with you long after you heard them. You can find priceless humor and more at www.jaystetzer.com.
When I am out and about, I tune into conversations around me. They are filled with catastrophes and disasters. The conversants generally cannot see the life lesson they offer. It is my job as a storyteller to sort out the meaning from all the information I hear. Also, I need to inject a bit of humor to make the tale palatable. Priceless humor.
There is priceless humor in virtually every genre. What is the reason for it? Simple answer number two. Laughter makes learning easier. There is often a lesson to be learned through a story with priceless humor. Priceless humor is... priceless!