Blogging with Arthur Koestler 27/09/2005 One of the pressures of being serious about blogging is the need to produce original and interesting material at regular intervals. Often I arrive at my blogging day (every second day) with no ideas, no inspiration and nothing to say. It is at times like these that my strategy for pulling posts out of thin air swings into action.The first thing to do is to get a fresh cup of coffee. During the walk to the kitchen and the little rituals of pouring and tasting, the theory is that the mind will suddenly produce an idea of astounding brilliance and genius. So far, this hasn't worked but I keep trying.Staring at the screen has little effect either, although I indulge in this practice frequently. Sooner or later, I will decide that the thing to do is leave the computer, walk about and get a few household chores done. I am convinced that one day I will have the perfect inspiration while taking out the garbage, although again I must admit that it hasn't happened like that yet.Allowing oneself half an hour to sit in front of some mindless program on the television sounds as though it should work but I am deeply suspicious of this method. Usually it results in my waking up an hour later, still devoid of ideas. What I have found to be effective on occasion is to do nothing, simply wander about the house, allowing the mind to have a break. It's a funny thing, the brain; try to make it work and it will sit down immediately and claim a backache or some other mysterious affliction. But insist that it do nothing and it will begin to ponder all sorts of weird and wonderful things, anything to avoid obedience to your intructions. Quite often it will arrive at some conclusions that are so ridiculous that a blog post can squeezed out of them.It doesn't always work, of course. There are times when the brain is way ahead of me and knows exactly how I'm trying to fool it into working. Then it will sit there like a slug, mumbling incomprehensible nonsense and laughing at my attempts to get it moving.That is when I begin to get desperate and have to institute the strategies of last resort. One of these is to open my Contents page, scroll down to the most recent entries and see if there's anything I can develop or that hasn't been written about for a while. The hope is that something will spring out at me and I can bash off a quick post to release the pressure.This doesn't work either. Until today, that is. Incredibly, this morning I stumbled upon a thought process that gave me a possible post. I was idly looking down the list of previous last-minute emergency scribblings, when I came across the one that broke my long-standing record of comments, Humor and Humour. Ah, they liked that one, I thought. Normally, that would have been that and my mind would have drifted on to other things but, on this occasion, it occurred to me that there might be some secret locked away in this post's popularity. I pondered further.It's humor, I thought, it has to be humor. People like to laugh and this one got them thinking about all their favorite comedy shows, good memories for all of us. And that reminded me of something that I read years ago, way back in the sixties, in fact.Almost required reading in those days were a couple of books by Arthur Koestler, The Ghost in the Machine and Darkness at Noon . I liked Mr Koestler's writing so much that I read several other books by him, one of which was The Act of Creation, a solemn tome investigating the process by which mankind produces works of art and invention. It was interesting enough but what really caught my attention was Mr Koestler's theories on humor (in fact, I can't remember anything else in the book).Old Arthur reckoned that the creation of jokes was as much an art form as painting or poetry, that it evidenced the creative impulse in us all. He backed this up with all sorts of arguments that I have since forgotten, but it matters not since I think it's a pretty acceptable theory anyway. The really interesting stuff was when he got down to trying to explain what made things funny to us. And the most important point he made was that jokes rely on a sudden switching of reality that surprises us and makes us laugh.As an aside, it occurs to me that I read the whole book and from it I have taken one part of one theory amongst many. All the rest is lost in the mists of forgetfulness. That says something about my memory, I'm sure, but also demonstrates how we carry around things that have had an impact upon us, sometimes for the rest of our lives. It may even be that the construction of thought we think of as "ours" is really an agglomeration of bits and pieces that we have picked up in all sorts of strange places. But that's another story and I should return to Mr Koestler and this business of humor.Apparently, many jokes (not all - there are other types of joke construction that I have forgotten) rely for their impact on lulling the listener into a sense of complacency and then altering the perspective suddenly to produce a sense of surprise and brief confusion. We even have a phrase that describes this effect; we call it "the punch line". And it is this that produces our response of laughter, an expression of the enjoyment we find in being thrust so abruptly from one reality into another.It's coming back to me now. Mr Koestler relates the laughter reaction to fear, seeing similarities in our reactions to sudden danger and to humor. This is rather more dubious, however, and we need not go into it here.As an instance of how this change of realities happens, I can cite from earlier in this post:When you read "The first thing to do is to get a fresh cup of coffee. During the walk to the kitchen and the little rituals of pouring and tasting, the theory is that the mind will suddenly produce an idea of astounding brilliance and genius", I'm sure that you expected there to be some successful outcome to my strategy. But the sentence immediately following, "So far, this hasn't worked", negates one's expectations and throws all that has gone before into a completely new light. It has changed our viewpoint, in fact.Hopefully, you found it amusing or this whole theory falls flat on its face. But I think there is truth in this, whether I succeed in being funny or not. So many of our jokes and humorous tales depend upon this punch line effect. And, get the punch line in the wrong place and it destroys the humor - there has not been sufficient easing into an accepted reality for the sudden emergence of a different reality to have full effect. So often we will say that telling a joke requires timing; that it can be funny when told by one person but desperately unfunny when told by another. And it's the timing we see as important, just the right length of pause before the punch line is delivered. That pause can be an important part of the humor in the joke; we know that the punch line is coming but a practiced comedian will have lulled us into comfort with the story so far and, when the switch comes, it still takes us by surprise.Now that I have written all this, it strikes me that I have some pretty strange thoughts floating around in my head. Why should I have retained this theory of humor for forty years when it would have been much easier just to relax and enjoy the humor of life? Perhaps it is a part of that need we all have to understand how things work, to increase our knowledge of ourselves and the world around us.But hey, it's given me another post, hasn't it?
Clive
Kurt Perhaps humor falls into the same category that philosopher W. Quine would put morals and ethics into; that is, we as humans feel it necessary to develop such a thing for our sanity and the preservation of society, but in lacking a strong methodology for arriving at such, we rely mostly on conditioning and habit rather than a strong methodology that, in theory, resolves all(i.e., the scientific method). That's not just any cup of coffee you hold when you try to think of something, Clive; that's the coffee of despair at the human condition, trying to inject the caffeine of humor into your bloodstream, when the darker truth is that even if there is truly such a thing as humor to be had, we as mere humans have no strong methodology to access it, and therefore must grope around in the dark for something that seems like it. Date Added: 27/09/2005
Gone Away Wow, you said a mouthful there, Kurt (and not of coffee, either). It's certainly true that human responses and motivations may be the most difficult of all things to pin down, to construct a scientific theory around. But it's fun trying and perhaps there's no harm done (as long as we don't take ourselves too seriously). But I love your description of "the coffee of despair" - that sums it up very elegantly! Date Added: 27/09/2005
John (SYNTAGMA) Funny you should have got this post on humour from Arthur Koestler, who was as black-hearted a villain as you'll find. I tried to read his stuff once, but there was something inauthentic about it that I couldn't put my finger on. Immensely clever and self-confident, he should have been right about everything, but somehow he wasn't. Then I read that many women claimed he had raped them. Michael Foot's wife, Jill Balcon, actually described how he raped her with immense force while a guest in their house. Not much humour there. But, as ever, you make something out of nothing in your post :-) Date Added: 27/09/2005
Gone Away Must admit that I know nothing of Koestler's life, John. But I think what you were identifying in his writing was a certain lack of scientific rigour, which he was always being accused of. Basically, he was a dreamer who constructed castles in the air (no wonder he was a great hit in the 60s!). But it was fun to read his theories and, by the laws of chance, he must have got it right occasionally. ;) Good to know that I have a talent for making something out of nothing! Perhaps that's why I am the Chameleon... :D .oO(No, wait a minute, a chameleon makes nothing out of something...) Date Added: 27/09/2005
Broken Messenger "It's a funny thing, the brain; try to make it work and it will sit down immediately and claim a backache or some other mysterious affliction. But insist that it do nothing and it will begin to ponder all sorts of weird and wonderful things, anything to avoid obedience to your intructions. Quite often it will arrive at some conclusions that are so ridiculous that a blog post can squeezed out of them." Clive, how very true. Great post, thanks for introducing me to Arthur. Date Added: 27/09/2005
Gone Away And thanks for the kind comment, Brad! Date Added: 27/09/2005
Mark Your post today inspired me too Clive. Here is my tribute to it. http://www.stuffmarkwrote.com/2005/09/the_theory_of_h.html Date Added: 27/09/2005
Gone Away Inspiration is what it's all about. ;) To make it easier, for me as well as anyone else, here's something to click on to go to Mark's site. :D Date Added: 27/09/2005
Ken This hasn't much to do with your creative struggles or with Koestler, but your post reminded me of it and I thought it might at least raise a weary smile. It's from the entry under "humour" in The Oxford Companion To The Mind, edited by Richard Gregory: "It has been claimed that women find jokes funnier when heard by the left ear, with the suggestion that this ear routes to the right hemisphere of the brain, which processes information more holistically than the left hemisphere, which is analytical. Could this be the basis for a biological explanation of sex differences in humour appreciation?" It would be fairer of me to complete the quotation in order to give the context, but it would spoil the joke, so I won't! Do I hear "Ouch!" around the blogosphere? Date Added: 27/09/2005
Gone Away You're a brave man, Ken. ROFLOL Date Added: 28/09/2005
B A Jerk I think its despicable to talk about the man behind his back. Why do we need to analyse him at all? let sleeping dogs lie. Mr B A Jerk President of the 'Friends of Hugh Muir Association' Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away Actually, he's been dead for years. What better time to talk about him? ;) Date Added: 28/09/2005
B A Jerk That explains the smell, i thought his plumbing had gone. Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away They have plumbing in Australia? Date Added: 28/09/2005
B A Jerk Only since they invented plastic pipes. They tried lead once but the locals......well you understand Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away How is old Hugh Muir anyway? Date Added: 28/09/2005
B A Jerk Hes a funny ole boy, sometimes i think hes a joke and other times i find the situations he gets into bring a smile to my face. All in all i think hes in a slow decline but not quite pushing up daisies just yet. Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away And you said he was who? Date Added: 28/09/2005
B A Jerk No i said he was Hugh Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away Who, Hugh? Or Who? Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away You were thinking of Frank, weren't you? No wonder nobody joined your darn fan club... Date Added: 28/09/2005
B A Jerk Are you saying there is no room in this world for a pink spotted bowtie? Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away .oO(I knew it - it was Frank he was thinking of...) Oh, is that what it was? I thought it was an enraged butterfly trying to strangle the life out of him. Date Added: 28/09/2005
Jodie Clive, I have all kinds of things floating around in my head...I read too much when I was a child, or at least read too many things I couldn't discuss with anyone so the concepts sort of got stuck into the corners of my mind and leap out when I least expect it. I just wish I had TIME to blog. It's been busy here. Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away I think these things accumulate over time, Jodie, and wander around our minds looking for a home. I wonder if minds ever get full... As for the blogging, I've noticed the slowdown at yours and figured you must be very busy at work. But we keep coming back hoping for more! :) Nice photo today, by the way. Date Added: 28/09/2005
Janus Regular intervals...I still haven't grasped that concept. Of course Interesting and Original is also a stretch for me. When I need ideas I go to work and I think of how to solve all the worlds problems. Then I get home from work and my brain shuts off. So if I take a recorder to work I might solve world hunger. If only I had the will to write it down when I got home Date Added: 28/09/2005
Autumn "But hey, it's given me another post, hasn't it?" ---- It has, and a thoroughly enjoyable one at that! The laughter comes from being shocked in a 'safe environment', according to something I read somewhere once - to do with the development of trust and humour in children, I believe. The whole fear factor thing is interesting, especially as I have never been able to understand why I personally burst into fits of laughter in potentially lethal situations. Oh, and you did succeed - in being funny that is. Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away I don't think you have a problem with Interesting and Original, Janus. But I agree that work gets in the way of blogging; this shouldn't be allowed and, when GAWDI's (Gone Away World Domination Inc) plans come to fruition, I shall make it a law that blogging comes first! Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away Ah yes, that was the explanation of laughter that was at the edge of my mind, Autumn. There may well be something in it, especially when you remember that hysteria is often evidenced by laughter. And the childhood element - I had forgotten that. Thank you. :) Date Added: 28/09/2005
ME Strauss I must begin by saying I don't believe this *. . . During the walk to the kitchen and the little rituals of pouring and tasting, the theory is that the mind will suddenly produce an idea of astounding brilliance and genius. So far, this hasn't worked but I keep trying. . . .* or the similar claims for a minute. But then most comedy is truth slightly skewed into fiction. So I'm willing to suspend my disbelief and go along with them. Having grown up in a family of storytellers and comics, I know that timing is most important too--both in delivery and in the mood of the audience to receive comedy. It doesn't work when someone is mad at you. Nor does it work with someone you don't really like. But it can work wonders on a day that has lasted for eons and taken its toll. OR to release tension as Shakespeare and other great writers have used it.I like it best when it coaxes me into doing something I don't want to do. Like getting to work when I want to play. . . . Thanks Clive for this post it was another award-winner. I'm starting to wonder if you ever have a klunker. I suppose those days where short and long behind you. Date Added: 28/09/2005
Gone Away Oh, I have my clunkers, Liz. I call them pumpkins for some strange reason (and that's the clue to finding one of them :D). But often opinions may vary as to which is a clunker and which isn't - I know there are some in this blog that I'm quite embarrassed by but others have said that they're fine (maybe they were just being nice). In the end, we can only do our best and hope that we get the occasional success. :) Date Added: 28/09/2005
Extempore I stumbled upon your blog by what seems like serendipity. I must say, I quite enjoyed your both your writing style and your theory, which, by the way, works! I suffer the same trouble when posting but unfortunately still don't have a foolproof strategy. I am still walking around my house and am now heading to the copy of Darkness at Noon that's been gathering dust for a bit. This was time very well spent indeed. Thanks! p.s. Come by my blog should you get a spare moment. Date Added: 29/09/2005
Gone Away Thank you, Extempore. Darkness at Noon was a book of its time, concerned with the mental gymnastics required to survive in a totalitarian communist regime. Even so, it is still probably the best of Koestler's works. Enjoy! Nice blog by the way, enjoyed your writing style and the Dylan Thomas quote. :) Date Added: 29/09/2005
Madmin Oi! You lot in here, we'll have less of the deprectated tags thank you. No <i>'s, <b>'s or <u>'s. *grumbles under breath* Date Added: 29/09/2005
Gone Away Now, now, Mad - be easy on the newcomers. They'll get the idea in time. ;) Date Added: 29/09/2005
Madmin Ok I'll play nice. If people really want to underline text then they should use <span style="text-decoration:underline;"></span>. This is because the U tag has been deprecated in HTML 4 and XHTML trans. W3 did this because underlined text gets confused with hyperlinks by users. The B and I tags have been replaced with strong and em respectively. :D Date Added: 29/09/2005
R Very good post, thought there should be a joke at the end tho. This coming from an ex bartender who told (still does sometimes) lots of jokes. You might like my blogging is better than sex joke. But you are right I did find your opening amusing and I guess that is why I read this after all. will be back to read more. Date Added: 29/09/2005
Gone Away My intent is always to amuse rather than get belly laughs, R. I leave the real humor to the professionals - their sense of timing is better than mine. ;) Date Added: 29/09/2005
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