Lecture Notes on Humor, Pessimism, Irony, Satire and Sentimental Mode

Humor as a Coping Mechanism

• Humor is used to mask difficult situations and corruption in the world.
• Using humor to deal with difficult things is a normal human reaction.
• Using humor can sometimes piss people off, but that's okay.
• Rocking the boat with humor is encouraged.
• Example: Claire from "Modern Family" smiles when uncomfortable, which people interpret negatively.

Pessimism vs. Optimism

• Pessimism: Negative thinking.
• Optimism: Positive thinking.
• Glass of water analogy:
  • Pessimists see it as half empty.
  • Optimists see it as half full.
• Pessimists as Realists:
  • Expect the worst and are pleasantly surprised when it doesn't happen.
• Optimists:
  • Expect things to turn out well and are disappointed when they don't.
• Balance:
  • Pessimists and optimists can balance each other in relationships.

Serious vs. Humorous

• Marlow can be both serious and humorous.
• Irony: The reality is the opposite of expectation.
  • Example: Protecting a house from external threats while the real danger is internal (e.g., abusive husband).
  • Cosmic irony: The audience knows something the character does not.
  • Horror film example: Character going to the basement when the audience knows the murderer is there.
  • Final Destination example: Knowing the lawnmower will kill someone.
  • Irony provides catharsis.

Satire

• Satire: Mocking something to show its faults, usually targeting something powerful.
  • Examples: Political cartoons, Saturday Night Live.
• Satire vs. Irony: Satire involves making fun of something, while irony is a reversal of expectations.

Satire in Literature

• Satire dates back to ancient Greece (Aristotle).
  • Apollonian satire: Lighter and humorous.
  • Juvenalian satire: Harsh and cutting.
• Middle Ages: Court jesters satirized the king and queen.
• Famous satirists: Oscar Wilde and Jonathan Swift.
  • Jonathan Swift: Author of Gulliver's Travels (miniature people, giants, talking horses, Japan).

Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

• Context: Famine in Ireland, English inaction.
• Swift's proposal: Eat the babies to solve overpopulation and starvation.
• Details: Fatten babies for a year, cooking instructions.
• Response: Divided; some horrified, others saw the dark humor.
• Impact: Helped to foment change in English policy towards Ireland.
• Words are powerful and transmit knowledge.
• Satire is humor on two levels: enjoying the humor and laughing at those who don't get it.

Sentimental Mode

• Sentimental mode: Emotional engagement with the text.
• Good books evoke emotions (love, fear, tension).
• Example: Feeling frustrated with Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
• Movie example: Crying during emotional movies or commercials.
• Inside Out: Great film about puberty and emotional changes.
• A good book makes you feel emotions.
• The current book is not sentimental but satirical and ironic.
• Factual accounts are often unemotional.

Additional Points

• The speaker is currently reading a book of essays by a New Yorker magazine writer (humorous, pessimistic).
• Dark humor is more sophisticated.
• Reading different genres can cleanse the brain.
• Love being surrounded by books.
• Repetition and patterns in literature (e.g., weather in The Big Sleep) draw attention to themes and character development.

Literary Devices

• Repetition is used to manipulate the audience and tell about the characters.
• Sturmwood Place description:
  • Two-story hallway.
  • Stained glass panel of a knight rescuing a partially nude lady tied to a tree.
  • The knight is fiddling with the knots, adding a layer of complexity and possible commentary.