The Novel World of Keitha Smith
  • Home
  • Books
    • Maybury Place
    • The Bell Curve
    • The Tender Conflict
    • The Journey
    • Mothering Heights
  • About
  • Services
    • Writing Courses
    • Book Covers
  • Just Sayin'
  • Curious Cedric
  • Contact

A merry heart

7/26/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
​I started off my monthly blog series back last November with a photo of the character, Larry Donner, in the 1987 movie Throw Momma from the Train. The character of Larry was wonderfully played by comedian Billy Crystal, a man famous not only as an actor and comedian, but also as nine-time host of the Academy Awards.
 
A few days ago my husband and I were fortunate to attend one of his live shows here in Auckland – the first time Billy’s ever performed in New Zealand. The format of the evening, done in interview style, was a retrospective of Billy’s life and work, recounting his rise to fame and special times with some of his celebrity friends. It was a fabulous evening, rich with interesting anecdotes and the quick and brilliant wit of a very funny man.
 
At the same time I’ve also been watching some online tutorials about writing and the current one I’m watching is about the subject of humour. The tutor, filling in for a guest of the regular lecturer, quotes Scott Adams (of Dilbert fame). Adams has developed what he calls “The Humor Diversification Rule” which basically says that there are six dimensions of humour:
  • Naughty
  • Clever
  • Cute
  • Bizarre
  • Mean
  • Recognizable
 
His observation is that you have to use at least two of these dimensions for people to recognise the humour in what has been said. As a writer it is always fascinating to learn new techniques and to be introduced to concepts you’d never heard of before. I’d never thought to deeply ponder why some things are funny (and some people enjoy them more than others) and why some things are not.
 
Wherever the truth behind it lies, I do know one thing: I’m extremely grateful for humour. It can not only amuse but diffuse, getting rid of tension and stress and often putting our light and momentary troubles into their proper perspective. In biblical parlance, “A merry heart does good like a medicine.”
 
So thanks, Billy, for a great evening!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author's Blog

    Coming soon. . .

    Archives

    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Books
    • Maybury Place
    • The Bell Curve
    • The Tender Conflict
    • The Journey
    • Mothering Heights
  • About
  • Services
    • Writing Courses
    • Book Covers
  • Just Sayin'
  • Curious Cedric
  • Contact