What is Funny? What do I know?

1/5/10- What is funny? My sister decided to go to the movies the other day, and wanted to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks" which is supposed a kid-friendly funny movie, however I can almost guarantee I would never enjoy myself at such a film. Why is it that I wouldn't like any of the jokes? As we grow older our tastes change, but should our humor change too or is there humor that everyone can understand? Slapstick, is humor that most people enjoy, but i think its the most brutal of all. I mean, we watch other people get physically injured and find it hysterical. Isn't that wrong? But I know Home Alone wouldn't be nearly as funny if the "Wet Bandits" didn't practically get mutilated in the climax of the film. Is slapstick humor desensitizing us to the pain of others. You could argue that Home Alone is okay because the "bad guys" had it coming and deserved to be punished. However this doesn't explain the countless other films and cartoons were the main character is constantly getting harmed and the audience find it funny. Humans display a primitive tendency in their enjoyment of the pain of others, as it makes them feel better about themselves and it makes them feel like they are in control.

1/10/10- Miranda just sent me a text message asking me what the truest statement i know (presumably for her own TOK journal.) This question made me really think. What do I know? I could say that I know a lot of things, like "my name is John Michael, I wear a size 10 1/2 shoe and my home is in Aurora, Ohio. However, I realized these statements are only true to me. For instance, if someone had not met me before they would not know that my name was John Michael and could assume my name was any sort of things. If they spoke a different language, perhaps they would not pronounce my name correctly. Also, many people I know call me all sorts of nicknames, so to them I may not really be John Michael but rather JM or Johnny. So, my name being John Michael is only really a true statement to me. My shoe size is up for debate in many instances. Different brands make shoes of different sizes regardless of their listed size and if i was buying shoes in a different country they wouldn't be listed in American sizes. Finally, those that don't know don't know that i live in Aurora, Ohio or may not even know that Aurora exists. Aurora being my "home" at all is debatable depending on who one talks to since where I physically does not necessarily have to be considered my home. (For instance, home is where the heart is would refute my claim.) Miranda's question made me realize I'm not really sure of anything. I'm not even sure if I'll wake up tomorrow, or have enough food for dinner. It's highly unlikely that I'd die in my sleep or lose the means to access food, but anything is possible and thus, nothing is certain.