Post by dangeresque on Jan 28, 2009 17:16:16 GMT
The Marxist-Leninist Theory of Humor
Tom McLaughlin
The Marxist-Leninist
Theoryof HumorTom McLaughlinMarxist-Leninists have paid too little attention to the
Humor Question. For too long Bourgeois Humor and its miserable mystifying ideology
have been allowed to misguide the broad masses of toilers. We must apply the
scientific methods developed by Lenin, Stalin and Mao to examine this question so
that we may use humor in the class struggle.What is Humor?Humor manifests itself by
an involuntary muscular and vocal reaction ("laughter") to external stimuli
("jokes," "comedy", etc.). However, to define humor as merely laughter would be to
adopt a vulgar empiricist approach. Clearly we must employ the dialectical
materialist method to examine the question more deeply.Base and Superstructure.Is
humor part of the (a) Base or (b) Superstructure? Humor employs language and
therefore certain one-sided dogmatic "Marxists" may try to pervert COMRADE STALIN'S*
brilliantly clear statement that language is not part of the superstructure. However
let us examine what STALIN did say: "In this respect while it differs in principle
from the superstructure, language does not differ from the implements of production,
from machines, let us say, which may equally serve a socialist or a capitalist
system."Can humor serve both a capitalist and a socialist system, as the means of
production can? Is it therefore part of the base? Is capitalist humor the same as
socialist humor? It is necessary only to ask such a question for us to see the
answer. Humor must change with changing social conditions in response to differing
modes of production. Humor is therefore part of the superstructure which arises in
response to the base.Correct and Incorrect Humor.We must now distinguish between
correct and incorrect humor. Humor contains opinions as to the real material
world-i.e., it is a form of consciousness. If we are not to become bourgeois
idealist humorists we must be guided by the great work of LENIN**, Materialism and
Empirio-Criticism: "Materialism in general recognizes objectively real being
(matter) as independent of consciousness, sensation, experience . . . .
Consciousness is only the reflection of being, at best an approximately true
(adequate, ideally exact) reflection of it." Humor must therefore reflect objective
reality. Humor in its present form reflects the contradictions of capitalism;
laughter is always directed against somebody or something and as such reflects the
hostility generated by competitive capitalism.Consider humor as it manifests itself
in "comic" strips, where sadistic bourgeois-individualistic characters attack each
other verbally and physically. Consider as well the most developed and pervasive
from of humor-the practical joke-whose aim is to subject another person to ridicule
while attacking him.While many more examples could be given, these should suffice as
particularly striking manifestations of the bourgeois nature of humor.But there is a
deeper reality than competitive capitalism which humor must reflect: class conflict,
the struggle between the bourgeoisie and the broad masses of toilers. It is the task
of militant class-conscious humor to point out this contradiction, emphasize it, and
mobilize the workers in the class struggle. Proletarian humor must therefore be the
exact opposite of Bourgeois humor, not only in form but in content. Bourgeois humor
dissipates the energies of the masses through laughter, by fruitless practice (e.g.,
rolling in the aisles) and by masochistic behavior (e.g., thigh-slapping). In
contrast, proletarian humor directs the workers to the fulfillment of their
revolutionary task.For example: In his speech to the 18th Party Congress STALIN had
recourse to humor which admittedly did provoke laughter. But the result was not mere
mindless mirth. At the end of his speech the assembled party members arose, shouting
"Long live Stalin" and other slogans expressive of revolutionary ardor.We now have a
working definition capable of providing a means of discovering genuine revolutionary
humor: Humor is laughter directed against the class enemy in a manner that mobilizes
the broad masses of toilers to overthrow capitalism.Humor as an expression of
conflict in general has no place where relations between members of the working
class are concerned. In such a situation it can only be divisive and objectively
counter-revolutionary. Thus it should be clear that those would-be members of the
Revolutionary Vanguard who provoke humor are objectively aiding the Bourgeoisie by
splitting and wrecking the unity of the working class. This is clearly a Trotskyite
tactic. Ironically, their interminable wrangling over "matters of principle" and
their ludicrous antics generally make the Trotskyites themselves a humorous
counterrevolutionary spectacle.The members of the revolutionary Party must adopt a
resolutely unhumorous attitude, a serious attitude in their relations with each
other and with the broad masses of toilers. This should be particularly evident when
we reflect on the nature of Socialist Society.Socialist Seriousness.Under Socialism
there will be no classes and consequently no class conflict. Humor will cease to
reflect any objective reality and will wither away. Consequently, those who engage
in humor after being admonished by Party members will be clearly identifiable as
saboteurs. It will be necessary to root out these weeds from the collective farm of
Socialism. However, such saboteurs may prove skillful in hiding themselves. It will
thus prove necessary for skilled Party members to ferret them out by engaging in
humorous dialogue. If, for instance, a suspected saboteur is found to be cognizant
of the answers to riddles, or if he replies to the Party member's encouragement by
telling jokes, then such a person must be subject to Revolutionary Justice. It is
suggested that the death sentence would be appropriate. This should be administered
while the criminal is heavily dosed with helium (laughing gas), so that his
"laughing death" may prove a suitable object ofhorror and negative reinforcement to
the broad masses of workers and peasants.Humor will of course continue to be
necessary in relations between socialist and imperialist countries as the class
struggle continues on the international stage.The Correct Employment of Humor.In its
employment humor must be subject to the Party Principle. Not only must the Party as
the exponent of the objective interests of the working class decide what is correct
humor, but humor must be subject to the discipline and order that only the
revolutionary Party can provide. In deciding what is correct humor the party must be
guided by this principle: Correct humor is mirth-mobilization that encourages the
toiling masses to collectively overthrow the bourgeoisie, under the leadership of
the party. This can be illustrated by an example:a) A worker trips on a banana peel
and falls. Is this correct humor? Obviously not! It is blatantly anti-working
class.b) A boss trips on a banana peel and falls. While this is progressive it is
not revolutionary. The overthrow of the capitalist seems to result from material
conditions, but in a purely mechanical way. Moreover, he could rise to his feet
again.c) The boss is tripped by the concerted actions of thousands of workers. This
is still more progressive, but it is totally spontaneist as it does not show the
role of the party.d) The boss is tripped by the concerted action of thousands of
workers after a speech by a party member. This alone of the above examples can be
considered correct humor.And what should be the reaction of the broad masses of
toilers? As we have said, they should not dissipate their energies through
"laughing", "giggling", etc. Instead a grim smile of determination should be their
response, followed by the clenching and raising of the fist. No frivolous
petit-bourgeois individualistic snickering should occur; and when humor is produced
under the leadership of the Party we can be assured this will never happen.We must
emphasize that these responses should be in unison. The collective twitching of
proletarian mouths in smiles of grim determination, combined with workers' fists
raised in the spirit of struggle will be ample evidence of the power of
revolutionary humor.Fight Bourgeois Buffonery!Create Socialist Seriousness!
*Great
former leader of the toiling masses.
** Sublime former leader of the toiling
masses.
SOURCE: McLaughlin, Tom. "The Marxist-Leninist Theory of Humor," Catalyst,
no. 9, 1977, pp. 99-102.
Tom McLaughlin
The Marxist-Leninist
Theoryof HumorTom McLaughlinMarxist-Leninists have paid too little attention to the
Humor Question. For too long Bourgeois Humor and its miserable mystifying ideology
have been allowed to misguide the broad masses of toilers. We must apply the
scientific methods developed by Lenin, Stalin and Mao to examine this question so
that we may use humor in the class struggle.What is Humor?Humor manifests itself by
an involuntary muscular and vocal reaction ("laughter") to external stimuli
("jokes," "comedy", etc.). However, to define humor as merely laughter would be to
adopt a vulgar empiricist approach. Clearly we must employ the dialectical
materialist method to examine the question more deeply.Base and Superstructure.Is
humor part of the (a) Base or (b) Superstructure? Humor employs language and
therefore certain one-sided dogmatic "Marxists" may try to pervert COMRADE STALIN'S*
brilliantly clear statement that language is not part of the superstructure. However
let us examine what STALIN did say: "In this respect while it differs in principle
from the superstructure, language does not differ from the implements of production,
from machines, let us say, which may equally serve a socialist or a capitalist
system."Can humor serve both a capitalist and a socialist system, as the means of
production can? Is it therefore part of the base? Is capitalist humor the same as
socialist humor? It is necessary only to ask such a question for us to see the
answer. Humor must change with changing social conditions in response to differing
modes of production. Humor is therefore part of the superstructure which arises in
response to the base.Correct and Incorrect Humor.We must now distinguish between
correct and incorrect humor. Humor contains opinions as to the real material
world-i.e., it is a form of consciousness. If we are not to become bourgeois
idealist humorists we must be guided by the great work of LENIN**, Materialism and
Empirio-Criticism: "Materialism in general recognizes objectively real being
(matter) as independent of consciousness, sensation, experience . . . .
Consciousness is only the reflection of being, at best an approximately true
(adequate, ideally exact) reflection of it." Humor must therefore reflect objective
reality. Humor in its present form reflects the contradictions of capitalism;
laughter is always directed against somebody or something and as such reflects the
hostility generated by competitive capitalism.Consider humor as it manifests itself
in "comic" strips, where sadistic bourgeois-individualistic characters attack each
other verbally and physically. Consider as well the most developed and pervasive
from of humor-the practical joke-whose aim is to subject another person to ridicule
while attacking him.While many more examples could be given, these should suffice as
particularly striking manifestations of the bourgeois nature of humor.But there is a
deeper reality than competitive capitalism which humor must reflect: class conflict,
the struggle between the bourgeoisie and the broad masses of toilers. It is the task
of militant class-conscious humor to point out this contradiction, emphasize it, and
mobilize the workers in the class struggle. Proletarian humor must therefore be the
exact opposite of Bourgeois humor, not only in form but in content. Bourgeois humor
dissipates the energies of the masses through laughter, by fruitless practice (e.g.,
rolling in the aisles) and by masochistic behavior (e.g., thigh-slapping). In
contrast, proletarian humor directs the workers to the fulfillment of their
revolutionary task.For example: In his speech to the 18th Party Congress STALIN had
recourse to humor which admittedly did provoke laughter. But the result was not mere
mindless mirth. At the end of his speech the assembled party members arose, shouting
"Long live Stalin" and other slogans expressive of revolutionary ardor.We now have a
working definition capable of providing a means of discovering genuine revolutionary
humor: Humor is laughter directed against the class enemy in a manner that mobilizes
the broad masses of toilers to overthrow capitalism.Humor as an expression of
conflict in general has no place where relations between members of the working
class are concerned. In such a situation it can only be divisive and objectively
counter-revolutionary. Thus it should be clear that those would-be members of the
Revolutionary Vanguard who provoke humor are objectively aiding the Bourgeoisie by
splitting and wrecking the unity of the working class. This is clearly a Trotskyite
tactic. Ironically, their interminable wrangling over "matters of principle" and
their ludicrous antics generally make the Trotskyites themselves a humorous
counterrevolutionary spectacle.The members of the revolutionary Party must adopt a
resolutely unhumorous attitude, a serious attitude in their relations with each
other and with the broad masses of toilers. This should be particularly evident when
we reflect on the nature of Socialist Society.Socialist Seriousness.Under Socialism
there will be no classes and consequently no class conflict. Humor will cease to
reflect any objective reality and will wither away. Consequently, those who engage
in humor after being admonished by Party members will be clearly identifiable as
saboteurs. It will be necessary to root out these weeds from the collective farm of
Socialism. However, such saboteurs may prove skillful in hiding themselves. It will
thus prove necessary for skilled Party members to ferret them out by engaging in
humorous dialogue. If, for instance, a suspected saboteur is found to be cognizant
of the answers to riddles, or if he replies to the Party member's encouragement by
telling jokes, then such a person must be subject to Revolutionary Justice. It is
suggested that the death sentence would be appropriate. This should be administered
while the criminal is heavily dosed with helium (laughing gas), so that his
"laughing death" may prove a suitable object ofhorror and negative reinforcement to
the broad masses of workers and peasants.Humor will of course continue to be
necessary in relations between socialist and imperialist countries as the class
struggle continues on the international stage.The Correct Employment of Humor.In its
employment humor must be subject to the Party Principle. Not only must the Party as
the exponent of the objective interests of the working class decide what is correct
humor, but humor must be subject to the discipline and order that only the
revolutionary Party can provide. In deciding what is correct humor the party must be
guided by this principle: Correct humor is mirth-mobilization that encourages the
toiling masses to collectively overthrow the bourgeoisie, under the leadership of
the party. This can be illustrated by an example:a) A worker trips on a banana peel
and falls. Is this correct humor? Obviously not! It is blatantly anti-working
class.b) A boss trips on a banana peel and falls. While this is progressive it is
not revolutionary. The overthrow of the capitalist seems to result from material
conditions, but in a purely mechanical way. Moreover, he could rise to his feet
again.c) The boss is tripped by the concerted actions of thousands of workers. This
is still more progressive, but it is totally spontaneist as it does not show the
role of the party.d) The boss is tripped by the concerted action of thousands of
workers after a speech by a party member. This alone of the above examples can be
considered correct humor.And what should be the reaction of the broad masses of
toilers? As we have said, they should not dissipate their energies through
"laughing", "giggling", etc. Instead a grim smile of determination should be their
response, followed by the clenching and raising of the fist. No frivolous
petit-bourgeois individualistic snickering should occur; and when humor is produced
under the leadership of the Party we can be assured this will never happen.We must
emphasize that these responses should be in unison. The collective twitching of
proletarian mouths in smiles of grim determination, combined with workers' fists
raised in the spirit of struggle will be ample evidence of the power of
revolutionary humor.Fight Bourgeois Buffonery!Create Socialist Seriousness!
*Great
former leader of the toiling masses.
** Sublime former leader of the toiling
masses.
SOURCE: McLaughlin, Tom. "The Marxist-Leninist Theory of Humor," Catalyst,
no. 9, 1977, pp. 99-102.
