Want Some Priceless Humor
01/01/09
Stories have been told and retold for centuries throughout the world. Why? For one thing, they are entertaining. For another, they deal with the human condition. 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. Wars. Pestilence. Thorny relationships. All of which beg for some direction, some assistance. Some kind of resolution.
Needless to say, no one cares to listen to preaching. We desire to sweeten our bitter medicines. Enter laughter. It is the honey in the brew. Priceless humor is filled with wit and wisdom. A unique combination.
As you know, everyone loves to laugh. Laughter enlivens the spirit. And as long as we are laughing at the foibles of others (and not ourselves) we find those situations funny. This is priceless humor.
Look around you at the great humorists. Dave Barry. Mark Russell. Garrison Kiellor. Look at history and the humorists that litter the pages. Moliere. Henry Fielding Storytellers all. Painting scenes with priceless humor.
Priceless humor... what makes it priceless? There is a simple answer to this question. Priceless humor revolves about common everyday experiences. 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 humor arises out of priceless situations.
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" Listen to "The Egg Seller" or "Hickory Dock" from World Full of Stories. 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!
I listen to lots of conversations. 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. To make the tale palatable, I inject a bit of humor. Priceless humor.
Virtually every storytelling genre contains examples of priceless humor. What is the reason for it? Simple answer number two. We learn best when we are laughing. A story with priceless humor often comes with a lesson attached. Priceless humor is... priceless!