In defense of vulgarity
October 19If, as Tufts students, we are unable to laugh at the ridiculous and the absurd, then we are destined to spend a dreary four years on Walnut Hill. Humor is often said to be the best medicine, and it is the perfect cure for what ails us all: extreme boredom and intense stress. Students at Tufts work hard at their academics, extra-curricular activities and athletics. The reason so many students are successful both during their college years and after is due to their work ethic. In the same way a random smile can brighten someone's day, a good chuckle can cure the common case of stress. Humor magazines therefore play a critical role amongst campus publications, spreading infectious laughter and smiles. It would be a shame to see them discarded or censored because of a controversial element. Most humor today comes at the expense of something else, be it an idea, person or institution. In recognizing that the statement or suggestions were made in jest, the comment is frequently discarded. Imagine if George Bush was to cry at his every incarnation as a monkey, or Bill Clinton at his caricatured baby face. Though this can be appreciated as novel by most bipartisan observers, humor also has sharper, more cutting aspects. What of a political cartoon that pokes fun at FEMA arriving at the Chicago skyline while apologizing for being late, asking about a cow that kicked over a can? Disaster relief is not funny, but the cartoon is. While starving comics everywhere are trying to figure out a recipe for comedy, a simple one can be described as magnifying incongruities or wittily expressing situations. When things don't match up, and someone points out the irony or satirizes a situation, most people laugh. Now the humor may not be appropriate or appealing to everyone, but personal preference should not interfere with the right to dissemination. Situations may not be humorous to certain people because of their proximity to the ridiculed element, their taste in jokes or their level of intelligence. In the same way that an individual would not watch a documentary that bores them or read an article they find profane, readers of comedy literature should steer away from what they don't find funny, not keep it out of print. Freedom of speech, and protection against unnecessary censorship are fundamental tenets of American ideology. Thanks to people like Larry Flynt and George Carlin, we have the right to say and print a great deal. These freedoms protect not only our right to access a diversity of viewpoints and information, but our right (but not necessarily the obligation) to enjoy magazines such as Hustler. Tufts students should be commended in their efforts to poke fun at anything and everything in an attempt to brighten the spirit on campus. The Zamboni did not cross the line in their recent issue, nor can it be seen as a defense of rape. When approaching written humor, one must always be wary of pretenses. The comedian or writer has no opportunity to play with flashing images, diction, or hand movements to make his point clear. By juxtaposing the logical with the absurd, humor magazines note their intentions. In the same way that a political cartoon of FEMA does not condone poor management of disaster relief, it is difficult to extrapolate the views of publishers on an issue. What is most interesting is that this doesn't matter. Simply the fact that the public has been made aware of an issue is positive. In the instance of the Zamboni, not only has SSARA's presence on campus been highlighted but its motives have been glorified thanks to the veil of humor. The Zamboni has presented a contentious issue, and in ridiculing it, actually defended it.
