An Ingredient That’s All Too Rare in Adult Life
Silliness, in general, is not hard for me to come by: I have a toddler who is, as she declares often, a “silly person.” Still, the very pleasure I take in being silly with my child and her friends reveals to me its rarity in adult public life. Few social situations encourage or even allow unadulterated loopiness. In general, art made for adults tends to abide by this taboo. We get satire, scatological jokes, imitations, and absurdity, but rarely do we get silliness.
TL;DR
- Adult public life and art rarely incorporate genuine silliness, often favoring satire, absurdity, or imitations.
- The play *Bocking*, by Preston Crowder, is a rare example of adult art embracing silliness.
- A specific scene features characters 'bocking' (speaking in chicken) as a form of communication and emotional connection.
- This 'bocking' scene is described as transcendent and the best in the play, offering catharsis and respite.
- Silliness is presented as a vehicle for catharsis, allowing characters and audiences a break from troubles and moralizing.
- The article draws parallels to sketch comedy groups like Monty Python, known for their embrace of pure silliness alongside satire.