The Riddler Speaks - Casefile #0099

TRS - Casefile #0099

Anonymous asks: It is starkly apparent that you are in possession of a fine sense of humour and a rapier-like wit, so please, Mr. Riddler, what is your stance on comedy? Do you see it as a meaningless pass time for the mindless coddled masses, or as one of the most complex, courageous, and misunderstood arts?

(laughs) Well anonymous, your own personal stance is pretty much given away by your choice of descriptors, isn't it? A detractor would never describe comedy as courageous, even in jest. I sense an alternate agenda. Are you trying to use me to bolster an argument of yours, perhaps? In which case, I suspect you'll be disappointed, because I have no particular regard for comedy. You see, comedy is an extremely broad term, giving the yea or nay to comedy as a whole is like declaring your love or hate of science. Clarification is required. For example, the modern standard of comedy is annoying, in the extreme. Compared to most of the things you're likely to see at the movie theatre, even the Joker almost looks funny. A large part of the commercial comedy industry seems to be focused on pandering to the lowest common denominator. Granted, P. T. Barnum once said that nobody ever went broke underestimating the tastes of the American public, but if you need an excuse to consign Western civilisation to the garbage of history, you need look no further than the Wayans brothers. Satire and wit, on the other hand, are much different, and much more important. Making someone laugh is fine for thirty seconds of entertainment, but making someone laugh while making them think is much more laudable. Unfortunately, it's an uphill battle. The vast majority of people are so completely idiotic that the customary rapier wit of the old days is no longer enough. Nothing ruins a joke or a witticism like having to explain it, after all. In that area, at least, I have to applaud the Joker. You have to get his jokes, or you won't live to hear another one. Smiling and laughing are becoming survival impulses in Gotham - much like they are among chimpanzees.