mt@mchpp.org

I, too, wonder about the psychology of slapstick and when the humor has crossed the line. Why do I laugh every time I see Chevy Chase in the attic in Christmas Vacation as he whacks his head with the floor board? Shouldn't I be concerned that he'll get a concussion? What role does humor, in general, play in our lives?

Your comments about the audience's reaction had me thinking that this class would be even more fun and engaging if we were viewing the films together. There is nothing like someone else's chortle to get me giggling. That shared experience heightens our engagement.

The pace of the music set the suspense. The dramatic pause before the water squirted out at the gardener made me feel like I was looking down the barrel of the hose wondering what was going on. But I also was in the audience and knew what was going to happen and was waiting for the gardener's response.

Interesting point. Would we have thought it was as funny if the gardener hadn't caught the boy and soaked him? I think I would have felt sorry for the gardener and a little annoyed at the boy. But since the gardener evened the score, the humor remained.