HONR4975
Humor in the Tradition

• Syllabus (under development).
• Episode of In Our Time (BBC Radio 4) about Tristram Shandy.
• The Science of Laughter, an episode of “The Infinite Monkey Cage” on BBC Radio 4.
• Jessica Mitford, “My Short and Happy Life As a Distinguished Professor”, from the Atlantic, October 1974. Note the reference to Hyman Kaplan.
• A classic by David Rakoff, available at Soundcloud and This American Life, “Oh! The Places You Will Not Go!”
• “At The Anarchists’ Convention”, by John Sayles, read by Jerry Stiller or John Sayles.
• Two from Morris and Bolcom:
  • “Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise”
  • “Three Penny Things”
• A clip from Across the Universe.
• “A Little Priest”, first act finale from Sweeney Todd, sung by
  • Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter
  • George Hearn and Patti Lupone
  • and again
  • Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury, the original Broadway recording.
• “When You’re Lying Awake With a Dismal Headache” from Iolanthe:
  • D’Oyly Carte Classic Recording, audio only.
  • English National Opera
  • Todd Rungren
• “I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” from The Pirates of Penzance:
  • George Rose, Shakespeare in the Park
  • A filmed version of the preceding
  • Alexander Armstrong and the BBC Concert Orchestra
  • The English National Opera
• Beyond the Fringe:
  • Take a Pew
  • Complete show
• Monty Python:
  • Spam
  • Ministry of Silly Walks
  • Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
• Fawlty Towers:
  • Touch of Class
  • The Germans
• From Boondocks
• Some Korean humor:
  • Running Man
  • Example 2; 0:50 through 2:45, and then 4:40
• Tom Lehrer:
  • The Elements
  • New Math
• Bessie Smith: Kitchen Man
• This American Life: Fiasco
• German humor: Vince Ebert
• French humor (from Claire):
  • Interville
  • Interville 50–year anniversary
  • Mon Meilleur Ami
• From Josh:
  • Pachelbel rant
  • Monti’s Czardas
  • MozART group
  • Rainer Hersch: Coronavirus Concerto
  • More Rainer Hersch
• From Julia: Comedy Breaks