If you have to explain a joke – it’s not a joke right? You know what I mean – in fact it’s almost painful – someone tells what they think is a side-splitter; a real knee-slapping, guffaw-inducing, funniest-ever joke and everyone sort of stands around, nervously looking at their shoes as the teller begins to explain why it’s really, really funny…pathetic.
This got me thinking about other interpretive situations as well. Books, stories, art – somehow the best require no real explanations, no deep dialogue (don’t tell the critics). The best – in my opinion – talk to you, let you in, don’t make it so obvious that they are trying to be a joke; same thing with a story or a painting – somehow you get the point, you get the message, you get the full impact.
Now, that’s not to say that you can’t go deeper – but as I said – if I have to explain the joke – how funny is it really? If I laugh because you are telling me I should, it just can’t have the same effect – so it seems to me.
Which leads me to the thought that inspired my ramble:
The perfection of art is to conceal art.
— Quintilian
And there you have it. It’s perfect when it’s not screaming “I’m art,” “I’m a joke,” “I’m a piece of literature.” When it “sings,” you just get it.
All of which leads me to how we speak to each other, to clients, to business associates and to our friends.
When the “Power Points” (as a metaphor for any discussion) get too long and complicated and we have to explain too much, we have gone off track. Way off track. If they don’t get it without the “sell,” it’s time to rethink.
So, no matter if it’s to a significant other, a new acquaintance or a client – if you have to work too hard at explaining yourself – you’ve already missed the point.
The best client presentations tell a story using words and pictures. Indeed, a key takeaway of the Y&R;presentation workshop is: figure out what the story is that you are trying to tell, and then tell it as clearly and succinctly as you can. Of course, being an expensive partner, we feel compelled to demonstrate our worth by delivering bulk. But quantity is no substitute for quality, and it is much harder to find the story and tell it well than to fill a binder with noise.
if you say this is an eyechart…..but — you are not telling the story — but you will be expalining the joke…and painfully
Hi David I have kind of become so addicted to your blog that I keenly look forward to updates. And this one was really interesting because it was something close to my heart. How do we tell compelling stories to clients and get them engrossed instead of just running through some 50 slides which is boring,mundane etc. I am not sure if you were able to read the book “The Perfect Pitch” by Jon Steel which is all about telling a compelling story to your audience.One of the thought is all of us should get enrolled in theatre and start building skills in voice modulation, expression etc. I am sure this will bring in more passion when we present to clients.
With a joke, crafted or spontaneous, the thing that gets you is something that doesn’t sit quite right. Something that doesn’t look quite right unless you get it… …and you definitely want to get it.
It’s a point. Not a well groomed and logical point. Definitely not a Powerpoint. Not what you were expecting. It’s a pointy point.
Uncomfortable enough to get my attention, but when you get it, it’s wonderful. The joke is about me and how my head works!
your right. never show the art. the art of the joke is that it must be truthful. thats why, when you have a little ditty that happed to you is always funnier than starting a joke with “two jew walk into abr” ‘one jew looks at the other and say’s “we must be in the wrong joke”
MOST comics, no matter how crazy the story sounds, they make it seem that its a true story.
so in the ad biz. no matter how silly the copy is, if you dont see the art, you believe the truth,
Demonstrate the spirit of free style…
My site is about the freestyle culture website, welcome to interested friends to visit!…
Demonstrate the spirit of free style…
My site is about the freestyle culture website, welcome to interested friends to visit!…
Proactol For Easy Weight Loss…
Proactol like a healthy way of making it easier to take charge of your easy weight loss and eating habits. …