Okay, so let me get this straight....
The joke is predicated on the apparent contradiction between how aristocrats are supposed to behave, and how this family act are actually behaving.
Er, okay.
I can't help feeling that there is a whiff of the emperor's new clothes about it.
Or, in the words of Shakespeare, much ado about nothing.
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The punchline isn't as important as the lead-up, which allows comedians to embellish and go crazy trying to outdo each other.
shareIt's not a contradiction. It's a commentary.Aristocrats think they're better than everyone else, with the exception of other aristocrats that are deemed above them, and that nothing that they do is wrong because they're doing it. A more recognizable rendition might be to have them read T Cat In The Hat and insist that it's all true then try and convince the talent agent of that, or at least jhat ìf he doesn't belive it he will be punished for eternity. Then when he ask them what they call themselves they say "Christians". Get it?
shareThat's one way of looking at it - it's also a pissing contest - the joke is supposed to be made up on the spot and appear as scatelogical and vulgar as possible - it's not so much about being funny as out-doing one another. And seriously - if you're going to say "whiff" and quote sheakspeare, it really ain't for you anyway - get real.
"Illusion, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money...or cocaine!"
"And seriously - if you're going to say "whiff" and quote sheakspeare, it really ain't for you anyway - get real".
Is "whiff" an intellectual word then? And it doesn't get much more "real" than Shakespeare. He really understood the human condition.
I loved this movie, and I also love Shakespeare. They're not mutually exclusive. And I also listen to both Mozart and Pink Floyd. Ditto my previous conclusion. What amuses the hell out of me are the sanctimonious sphincters on this board who broadly proclaim that anyone who likes this movie must be some kind of knuckle-dragging troglodyte.
shareSid -
You are correct, Sir! Most people telling the joke, the film makers especially, failed to grasp your simple observation. If there is only effort made to be crude and filthy the joke is lost, as well as the creativity.
True. As a traditional joke it fails. That's why some of the versions fall a little flat. I think one of the better jokes in the movie is from the writer for The Onion where he inverts the formula and talks about these three women of color who do this rather beautiful act full of classical music poetry and painting and when asked what they're called they respond "N!gger *beep* That works because it both plays with our expectations of what the joke is as established in the movie and it plays with our expectations that such a nice and highbrow act would have a very highbrow and classy name.
The TRUE Hero of Lost:share
http://tinyurl.com/by5gwr
It's a joke. It's probably the BIGGEST example of a joke where overthinking ruins it.
Just listen, and laugh.
If you don't dig raunchy comedy, don't watch the movie. What the frack did you THINK it was going to be about?
Yeah, the whole point of the joke, is that it's just a simple way for comedians to compete, be obscene, banter and let off steam. It's not meant to be the greatest joke ever, it's just a joke told traditionally in comedy circles since the 70's. The joke is purely the fact that it is so obscene and over the top, and the talent agent isn't even disgusted by what he's just seen, he "simply asks what do you call your act?". The punchline "The Aristocrats" is 'funny' due to the fact that it's both a polar opposite to what has just taken place, but also has a hint of truth behind how some aistocratal families have been perceived to be (inbred). For centuries the royal families of Britain and France have been notorious for inbreeding.
Yes on the whole, it's not a hilarious joke, but that's not the point. On the whole I quite enjoyed this film, I found it interesting and liked seeing all the different acts take on the joke.