Recommended Articles
What in the World Makes Priceless Humor Priceless?
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 stories using animals as characters reflect the situations and actions of our species.
The struggles of life have been with us for centuries as well. Conflict. Pestilence. Thorny relationships. All of which beg for some direction, some assistance. Some kind of resolution.
At the same time, nobody likes to be preached to. We desire to sweeten our bitter medicines. That is where laughter comes in. It is the honey in the brew. Priceless humor is filled with wit and wisdom. A unique combination.
As you know, laughter lightens the heart. Laughter enlivens the spirit. And as long as we are laughing at the foibles of others (and not ourselves) we find those situations funny. Call it priceless humor.
Look around you at the great humorists. Art Buchwald. Mark Russell. Garrison Kiellor. Look at history and the humorists that litter the pages. Mark Twain Ogden Nash. Storytellers all. Priceless humor their brush.
Priceless humor... what makes it priceless? There is a simple answer to this question. Priceless humor involves situations which most of us have experienced. The missed appointment. The comic situation. The consequences that follow are generally laughable.
You will find lots of priceless humor in urban folktales. My CD Parking in Manhattan illustrates many humorous circumstances. These hilarious comedies involve characters everybody can relate to and empathasize with. 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. Two good examples from my CD Fables in Four Minutes are "Rock Soup" and "Herschel in the Woods" 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. At www.jaystetzer.com you will find a rich source of priceless humor!
When I am out and about, I tune into conversations around me. They are filled with catastrophes and disasters. And the life lessons are generally hidden from view. 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. Making the story priceless with priceless humor!
Virtually every storytelling genre contains examples of priceless humor. Why? Another simple answer. Laughter makes learning easier. There is often a lesson to be learned through a story with priceless humor. Priceless humor is... priceless!