January 11, 2006
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Topic: terms that are important and funny
mystification – confusion resulting from failure to understand
– a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly thought and behavior; “a confusion of impressions”
demystify – make less mysterious or remove the mystery from
mist – something that dims or conceals.
- a haze before the eyes that blurs the vision.
Sometimes in my writing, I go a bit overboard with idealist zeal, to the point that I offend even myself. Even when I write things like, “I want to improve happiness around the world,” I flinch, because I feel as though I’m taking things seriously, which is a condition, I believe, of unhappiness.
To me, comedy is one of the greatest tools human beings have at their disposal. The life that we cannot laugh at, is a life not worth living…how does that sound? If we can’t laugh at our own finiteness, our own faults, mistakes, misdeeds…our warts and pimples, our limps and scars. If we can’t make fun of the Hitlers and Martin Luther King’s of the world, where does that leave us?
In an effort to reduce my educational sunk costs (read last post for my thoughts on sunk costs), I picked up one of the few books I didn’t sell-back in college. It’s not a book I read, just a book I spend a lot of money on and didn’t think it was right to accept $5 for it, when I knew the college would then sell it to some other unsuspecting college student for a considerable amount more.
The book was for an argumentation writing course I took…and in the opening chapter they “argue,” what the purpose of argumentation is. They say it’s not to win-or-lose, as in a debate, but to engage in discussion in order to better understand others, to persuade others when appropriate, and to work together to reach best solutions. The talk a bit about the Greek philosophers like Socrates, and the idea of an absolute, Truth, with a capital T. The writers argue that their is no Truth in life because human beings are subjective in their viewpoints. What the writers did support, and this is an idea I also believe in, is that through argumentation we can come to better understand our own views and values, and work towards “improving” society.
The 3 words I chose at the beginning of this post, are words that I believe are important in clarifying our view and values, and in “improving” society. They’re also words that are funny, becaues wanting to “improve” society is a pretty funny thing. Why is it funny? Well…i’ll leave the jokes to you guys. But, the idea again is that there’s no cure better for existential dread, or depressed idealism, than a shot of laughter.
But…the words demystification, and mystification, have struck me…because that’s what so much of life is. I used to be mystified by “grown-ups,” and the “adult-world,” based on so much “confusion of impressions,” and the feeling that life was “mysterious.” And, I don’t believe my process of demystification of this world have come this now becuase I’m 24, 2+ years removed from college, and 6mos.+ into a grown-up desk-job. I don’t believe experience alone accounts for a person’s ability to see through the mist, to see through the haze before our metaphoric eyes which blurs our ability to see reality a bit more clearly.
I want to turn this post now over to you, and ask…in what ways do you see yourself/society, as plagued by mystification? In what ways has the mist gotten thicker, and in what ways has it cleared? And…if you have any good jokes, please share…
-dan
p.s. This movie I just watched, a documentary I found on Netflix called “The Gleaners and I,” it’s about people who live off the leftovers of others. It covers the homeless and hungry who stoop down to pick leftover potatoes or cabbage from after harvests, or those who dumpster dive and discover fresh meals and technology to repair. Thought provoking…and stirring an idea in me to make a documentary of my own one day…
Comments (5)
I hope I didn’t say anything to offend you in my post of a couple days ago. I went off on a rant, probably a little more strongly than I should have. I’ve since made the post private because it doesn’t fit the tone of my current site, nor do I want it to. (I’m trying to be done with ranting. Sometimes I fall back into it.)
My favorite of the words above is “mist.” In some ways, mist is good. It adds moisture to life and helps it keep from becoming too dry — like the tears that spring from the corners of the eyes during laughter or times of sadness.
I just got the latest issue of Education Revolution in the mail today. When I turned to the last page, I saw a profile of your book. Congratulations! Very nice write up of it, too.
will look at that documentary. Very interesting post about language…
Very true. If life is a transparent piece glass one can look at both ways, then humor is what smooths the edges so one can actually do so. How was that argumentation class?
P.S. A little bit of idealism isn’t all that bad. The context of desiring progress/change seems to be as important as being realistic in one’s endeavors. Good thoughts.
This guy is driving around downtown, looking for a parking space. He is running late for a job interview, and is beginning to get frantic. He’s already circled the building twice, and tried a few other side streets as well, all to no avail. In his desperation, he begins praying to God:
“Please God, help me. If you can guide me to a parking space, I’ll do anything. I’ll drink less. I’ll be a better father. I’ll go to church more than just once a year. I’ll tell everyone how wonderful you are God. Please, just help me…”
No sooner has the prayer left his lips, than a car pulls out from a parking space almost right in front of him. A beam of light shines down from the heavens, bathing the freshly vacated spot in a brilliant glow.
“Oh, hey. Never mind. I found one.”