Many people within my age group will remember the hugely popular comedy series Seinfeld. It was aired on TV when I was still doing my diploma studies, and I remember one of my course mates was highly excited about the show. He would go on and on talking about the funny things Kramer did or George did. And I could not quite place the craze. Was it the characters, the script, or was it simply there was nothing else better at that time? I recently borrowed a copy of SeinLanguage from my girlfriend and all the memories of the type of humour introduced in the show came flooding back.
For those who have ever watched the TV series, there will always be a short snippet at the end where Jerry Seinfeld does his standup comedy bit. While reading the book, it is very easy to imagine and read (in your mind), the exact same way that Seinfeld delivers his jokes. While you’re reading, it is as if you have to be the performer, practise your timing and delivery and the book will be a pleasure to read. Many a times, while I was reading on the train, I could not help but stifle a chuckle. Take this short extract for instance.
“On my block, a lot of people walk their dogs and I always see them walking along with their little poop bags. This, to me, is the lowest activity in human life. Following a dog with a little scooper. Waiting for him to go so you can walk down the street with it in your bag. If aliens are watching this through telescopes, they’re going to think the dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms, one of them’s making a poop, the other one’s carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge?
I say, if this is where we’re at after 50,000 years of civilization, let’s just give up. I’m serious, let’s pack it in. It’s not worth it. Let’s just say the human race as an idea didn’t quite work. It seemed good at first, we worked on it for a long time, but it just didn’t pan out. We went to the moon but still somehow wound up carrying little bags of dog doody around with us. We just got mixed up somewhere. Let’s just give it over to the insects or whoever else is next in line.”
I say, if this is where we’re at after 50,000 years of civilization, let’s just give up. I’m serious, let’s pack it in. It’s not worth it. Let’s just say the human race as an idea didn’t quite work. It seemed good at first, we worked on it for a long time, but it just didn’t pan out. We went to the moon but still somehow wound up carrying little bags of dog doody around with us. We just got mixed up somewhere. Let’s just give it over to the insects or whoever else is next in line.”
Quite a number of his little snippets, although more humorous than anything, really points out the disfunctional side of the human race. We’re just a big theatre of comedy. It’s funny and sad at the same time.
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