You could spend a lot of time exploring the differences between British and American comedy only to reach the conclusion that, ironically, they're pretty much the same. Back when director Edgar Wright and myself were writing our debut feature, Shaun Of The Dead, we were certainly banking on a comic universality in the story of a suburban waster battling the living dead. We had every confidence that the humour would translate. Indeed, we made only one subtle dialogue adjustment during the writing process, changing the word "pissed" to "drunk", so as to avoid any confusion between the conditions of being munted and mardy. The film went on to enjoy surprising success in the US, suggesting that surmounting the supposed gulf between our respective senses of humour requires nothing more than a light skip.
When it comes to humour, however, there is one cultural myth that just won't die. You hear it all the time from self-appointed social commentators sat astride high horses, dressed as knights who say, "Ni". They don't get it. They never had it. They don't know what it is and, ironically, they don't want it anyway. That's right: "Americans don't do irony." This isn't strictly true. Although it is true that we British do use irony a little more often than our special friends in the US. It's like the kettle to us: it's always on, whistling slyly in the corner of our daily interactions. To Americans, however, it's more like a nice teapot, something to be used when the occasion demands it.
Which lead to the obvious question: is it the ultimate irony that a Brit who goes on incessantly about how North Americans don’t get irony really doesn’t understand irony?
6 comments:
Irony requires that the reader and writer share a body of knowledge or references will fall flat.
We in the U.S. may not pick up on British/English/UK irony as readily as Canadians who have been closer to source for a longer time.
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You could spend a lot of time exploring the differences between British and American comedy only to reach the conclusion that, ironically, they're pretty much the same.
Strongly suggests to me the author, ironically, does not comprehend irony.
You know I'm your hero, Peter.
Semper Britannicus!
To be fair, Americans do understand British humour and do have a sense of irony.
The difference, as Pegg notes, is that the British always have it on in the background. Whereas Americans expect you to SIGNPOST IT VERY CLEARLY for them.
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