There was an interesting article I read recently, where the writer talks about comedy and the opposite of comedy. The thought process of the writer got me hooked to what he had to say.
For us, the opposite of comedy is tragedy. Why? It is obvious isn’t it? Comedy ends on a happy note and tragedy on an unhappy note. Both comedy and tragedy have always been viewed as completely different genres, and even our ancient theaters did not merge aspects of the two.
However, this article takes you along into a different realm of thinking – that both comedy and tragedy are similar because both are life-affirming. The writer talks about how tragedy, just like comedy is life-enhancing. Take the case of Romeo and Juliet who must die in the end, but in death they become both immortal and universal.
Comedy is compared to the brightness of noon and tragedy to the quiet and solemn grandeur of sunset; both of which add light to our lives. Isn’t there a common factor between them? Don’t they all of a sudden seem very similar?
If tragedy is not the opposite of comedy; then what is? It’s Pornography!
Does it sound ridiculous? Okay, let’s expand this a little and see if it makes sense.
We all agree that pornography is detrimental to our society, as opposed to erotic that enhances life. Porn is nowhere near erotic. There is a huge difference between the two. If erotic is nude, porn is naked. While a naked body is an object of contempt and disgust; the nude depicts sensuality where the body is considered to be the abode of human spirit.
The writer takes the example of Sasha Baron Cohen’s latest film, “Bruno,” released in July this year. This film shows the huge divide between porn and corn. Sasha’s career was filled with controversies. He was a professional imposter who scandalized British high society by gatecrashing as an intruder. When this became public, he put his mimicry talent to good use in filmmaking, and made a film called “Borat.” In this film, he impersonated a Central Asian who was foul-mouthed and worse still, was not even toilet trained, and who visits the US with the intention of creating a documentary film about life in America.
Although, Borat was filled with gross humor, it was ultimately a very funny experience, with the comedy of the film lying in the fact that the people were not aware that he was playing a part. This situation created a hilarious comedy of errors.
However, Cohen’s latest film, Bruno, is a total contrast. In this film, he impersonates a Austrian fashion designer who was a homosexual. In this film, the comedy turned out to be leaning towards pornography, and was an utter disaster. It is surprising to note that Cohen, a wonderful comic could do that to his new film. This happened because he went a little too far and fell through the pornography trapdoor, and used obscenity instead of the double meaning comedy or even eroticism.
While comedy induces an immense interest in the audience and keeps them captured to what is going on, porn on the other hand, induces boredom.
The opposite of life is not death; it is boredom. Now tell me, what is the opposite of comedy? The opposite of corn is porn, as proved by Bruno. One boring, one not.