The timeless art of slapstick comedy
As a species humans feel the need to constantly analyze everything. We need to look deep beyond the surface of what we see with our eyes in search of deeper meaning. Slapstick comedy is the one time we can place our analytic minds at ease and take the pie in the face for it's full worth. IT'S A PIE...IN YOUR FACE! That's it.
Moses Horowitz otherwise known as Moe Howard of The Three Stooges was constantly baffled by viewers and critics who found no meaning in the comedy of The Three Stooges. 'We poke each other in the eye, that's it' said Moe (Horowitz) there's nothing deeper here. Sir Charles Chaplin began to introduce pathos into his famous tramp character and though Chaplin still used slapstick comedy failsafe laugh generating techniques, viewers and critics began to see deeper into this mini mustached lovable man. When compared to The Three Stooges, who never evolved past eye poking and pie throwing, critics and viewers saw Chaplin was saying more than what was on the surface, yet lowbrow comedy fans could still go and get that laugh known to be delivered by Chaplains Tramp. At some point in The Three Stooges comedy career Moe (Moses Horowitz) was asked by his partners Larry (Larry Feinberg), Curly (Horowitz) and Shemp (Horowitz) if they should start to get more serious in their comedy short movies. Moe (Moses Horowitz) answered "no" The Three Stooges were an act meant to amuse not analyze. At a time when Americans were faced with the Great Depression, World Wars one and two, it was Horowitz's (Moe's) opinion that keeping the routines simple and amusing were what would keep peoples mind off their troubles, at least during their day at the movie theatre.
The slapstick pie in the face humor is the type of comedy that has been entertaining people since the theatre started, perhaps before recorded theatric history, and still exists today with the same effectiveness. You can see this in anything done by Soupy Sales, Doodles Weaver and at times even Seinfeld, and Billy Crystal. Comedians have relied on slapstick since people have wanted to laugh, which is ages ago, and comedians still rely on this time tested approach to comedy entertainment.
So put away your thinking caps get your popcorn and be prepared to laugh the next time you go to see a simple slapstick comedy show. No need to analyze anything here. Just laugh.
I'm Scott D. Patashnik. See you at the movies.
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