Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!unc!mcnc!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-lymph!arndt From: arndt@lymph.DEC Newsgroups: net.religion,net.flame Subject: Re 'Cheeses'/ Life of Brian Message-ID: <1014@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Mar-85 11:01:56 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.1014 Posted: Fri Mar 8 11:01:56 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Mar-85 05:23:05 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 34 Xref: watmath net.religion:5917 net.flame:8728 I also saw the movie Life of Brian and here are a few comments about it. (I am a great fan of Monty Python, by the way.) Much of their religious 'humor' (not all!) is stupid silly and falls flat on anyone with a small amount of knowledge of the religious beliefs involved. Rather like a whine than wit. I think really good religious humor has to be about the beliefs REALLY held or understood. Life of Brian, seen from this perspective was hardly about the life of Christ at all. Humor of all types often takes what one believes about reality and pushes it to a silly conclusion or fractures the 'map' of reality in such a way to create a tension that is released in laughter. But to parody what NO ONE believes misses the point of humor. That by way of general comment on Monty Python's religious humor as I saw it in Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life as well. I believe I saw death in Life of Brian!!! By that I mean we were trundled down the path leading to the conclusion that Christianity is silly and those who believe it perhaps even sillier (although perhaps it could be said they were making a parody of Christians who don't really understand their faith) and then - with the mob on the crosses (Brian included) singing "Life is Shitty" - they skillfully stick the knife in the audience!!!!! Kill you as you sit there laughing! They HAVE no answer to the larger questions of life to present (at least in the picture), only gallows (in this case literally) humor!!! It was chilling to behold! Some people in the audience seemed to get it as I observed them. Many missed it. It reminded me of the paintings of the Pope in a glass box screaming a silent screem. Forget the painter. But there were some great one liners in both movies. Comments anyone?? Regards, Ken Arndt