Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Jesus, Teachers, and Humor

      I'm a stand-up (or standup or stand up or StandUp) comedian. I've been doing it for a couple of years. I've been doing comedy roles in theater for about 9 years. Not all that long, relatively, but I love comedy. I've seen it bring joy to the most downtrodden, sad, lonely people. I've studied how the greats have been doing it since record of comedy was a thing. I've seen numerous Charlie Chaplin films, Buster Keaton is a genius, Harold Lloyd is phenomenal. I'm amazed at the wit and simplicity of Monty Python and the edgy stuff of SNL. I'm in love with Louis C. K. pushing what people think of society, I love Brian Reagan's observations, and Tina Fey's strong and avante garde style. I love and appreciate what Carol Burnett has done for comedy on television and women in comedy. I love Eddie Izard's blatant way of sharing comedy and Sarah Silverman bringing back the coolness of being child-like (not childish) and enjoying life.

      Needless to say, I have a lot to say about comedy. A lot. When I'm in the car, I'm listening to 24/7 Comedy. When I'm procrastinating on doing work, I'm on YouTube watching Conan O'Brien bits. It's just something I like to surround myself with. My acting teachers are trying to explain to me that comedy isn't something to hide behind, but rather something to be displayed when the timing's just right. I've grown so much as a person because of comedy and, in fact, was introduced to a lot of social issues from activist comedy.

      All this being said, reading the Bible can be a little difficult without thinking Jesus is just this hugely stoic character without human emotions. I mean, the only time we feel super sadness is when Jesus is being crucified. But, for some reason, I can't help but think Jesus was one hilarious guy. Super happy, optimistic, loving guy. I bet he laughed so much during his 33 years of his loving life. You know what I mean? Allow me to explain.

      I'm going to school now. Have been for 17 years. But even if I hadn't, I'd still be surrounded by teachers. Everyday I see teachers. Teachers who are passionate. I, personally see pastors as teachers, too. My parents are teachers. I mean, if we wanna go super deep, I think every single person is a teacher. But, in the "professional" sense, I consider professors (or teachers), parents, and pastors pretty big stars in the "Teacher" category.

      Now, I don't know about you, but my teachers are constantly laughing. All. The. Time. Not laughing at us, really. More like what happens when you see a baby trying to do something for the first time and the baby's so close but then ends up doing it slightly wrong. So they go back and get frustrated, but keep trying. I mean, it's cute and funny, right? Well, anyway, my teachers are constantly doing that. And, on top of that, they remember those frustrations and how they felt. And, on top of that, you become close with your teacher and have jokes and stuff. It's what we do. It's what my parents have done. My grandparents, same thing.

      For as long as we can track, humans have been making other humans laugh. Even those teachers we see in the movies portraying the 1950s. The teachers who look like they don't care and they just go to the teacher's lounge and smoke. Well, I tend to think maybe media got it a little wrong and, in their own way, they loved and cared for their students and laugh with them and so on.

      That said, I bet Jesus laughed a lot. Like a lot a lot. Like I bet most of the time in the gospels, he was laughing. The biggest picture I can think of is in Mark 4:35-41, when a storm is raging and the disciples are freaking out and Jesus is asleep. Honestly, if I read that without regarding how scared the disciples must have been (understandably so!), I laugh at that image. I mean, a bunch of guys freaking out and one, with total trust, is just sleeping over in the corner being like "I love falling asleep to thunderstorms!" I mean, it's a common comedy thing we see now. And comedy always comes out of real life. So, imagine Jesus. I think he's less annoyed and more like "you guys crack me up." I mean, I'm sure he would have loved to continue sleeping, but teachers give up a lot for their students, so, you know.

      As I said in one of my earlier posts, I think there are tons of things the disciples and Jesus did that isn't in the Bible. Not to mention that The Bible doesn't spend too much time talking about the emotions of the people. If it does, it talks about anger and sadness. But even then, it's kind of implies, not really obviously shown. Even in Shakespeare's time (like 1,600 years after Jesus), not much time was thought about emotions in literature. It's not the point. It's supposed to reveal truths. And we interpret them how we will.

      Given the heavy subject or religion in general, it's no wonder we stamp stoic, non-emotional Jesus on the art we see. But, as for me, I can't help but think Jesus was one happy guy. An optimist to think that we could, literally, solve the world problems with total, unconditional love for all. A loving guy, to sacrifice his life for the countless people then, and the countless people He's yet to meet. There's a bright spot in every dark situation. I think Jesus was one. He laughed often, love entirely, and had total faith in humanity. And still does. How awesome.

Woo!
Mary Taylor

My all-time FAVORITE comedian of all time forever and always!


     

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