Jonathan Franzen: Why do you find ignorance interesting? | Big Think

TL;DR

Unknowing and lack of self-awareness are essential elements in creating genuinely comic characters and scenes in literature.

Transcript

to allude to one of the great comedies about unknowing ever written which was pale fire um Charles kinbo and the amusement park across the street while he's tried to concentrate on his own annotation of a thousand line poem uh nabokov's characters are wonderfully I mean that that's all so much of that is the comedy of not knowing um when one of the... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖤 Unknowing and lack of self-awareness are fundamental to creating genuinely comic characters and scenes in literature.
• ✍️ Comedy of not knowing is closely related to the tragedy of not knowing, making it a complex and engaging element in comedy writing.
• 🖤 Genuine comic characters cannot be overly witty or self-aware; their lack of awareness is what makes them truly funny.
• ✍️ The presence of real literature enhances comedic writing by adding depth and complexity to the humor.
• 🕶️ Even in dark and bleak narratives, authors can incorporate humor, although it may have a bitter undertone.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is the comedy of not knowing important in creating humor in literature?

The comedy of not knowing adds depth and complexity to comic writing. Genuine comic characters who lack self-awareness provide relatable and entertaining situations for readers.

Q: How does the presence of real literature impact comedy writing?

Real literature enhances comedy writing as the comedy of not knowing closely aligns with the tragedy of not knowing. This combination adds depth and complexity to comedic scenes and characters.

Q: Can authors who primarily write dark and bleak narratives still incorporate humor?

Yes, authors like Franz Kafka and Nikolai Gogol demonstrate that even in dark and bleak narratives, humor can be present. However, the humor may have a bitter undertone and evoke a sense of sympathy for the suffering implied by the authors.

Q: What role does self-implicating humor play in comedy writing?

Self-implicating humor adds a level of humanity to comedy writing. It allows readers to connect with the characters and adds depth to the humor by showcasing the author's own self-awareness and vulnerabilities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Charles Kinbo in "Pale Fire" exemplifies the comedy of not knowing, as he misinterprets a note about his bad breath as an accusation of hallucinations.

• Genuine comic characters possess a high degree of unknowing and lack self-knowledge, leading to hilarious situations.

• The presence of real literature enhances comedy, as the comedy of not knowing closely relates to the tragedy of not knowing.