In “Play,” Daniel Pink argues that laughing, video games, and humor cultivate right-brain thinking. Laughing clubs sound strange, which Pink admits, but I wonder if they could be useful in the classroom. Would it do any good to encourage today’s adolescents to be able to laugh for no reason? I think so, but students would be breaking so many adolescent social taboos that only the very brave would be willing to try it. In general, I don’t completely agree with Pink’s laughing for better productivity. I would participate in a laughing circle to see what it’s like, and I do enjoy laughing for no particular reason, but there is a difference between spontaneous and planned laughing.
Pink argues that video games have already eclipsed films in terms of popularity and that they may become the literature of the twenty first century. As opposed to traditional literacy, in video games facts are connected and manipulated, not just memorized (from Gee 193). In fact, the merging of science and art in the video game medium enables players to use both logic and aesthetic: “a whole new mind” (196). Pink does acknowledge that some games are “utter time-wasters” (194), yet he does not say which games these are or what distinguishes time-waster play and functional play.
I agree with Pink that humor is one of our highest forms of intelligence (198), and it should be acknowledged more in the classroom, for example. However, I do not think it is possible to see humor as anything but entertainment first and all other functions second. Could many a truth be said in jest if humor’s primary function were not to entertain? I guess my concern here is similar to the one I have about planned laughing. Enjoying what one does is important in order to engage in work and be productive, but do we really need “’corporate jesters’” (188)? Also, how neurologists determine the function of humor was not convincing to me. The punch-line quiz on page 196 did not seem like an accurate scale for determining someone’s humor ability. At first, I thought it was a trick question. Ironically, it reminded me of one of those meaningless regents questions. I’ve always been told that I have a strange sense of humor, but does that mean I have brain damage? Of course it does.
Some questions:
Is it true that people rarely succeed in anything unless they are having fun doing it?
Would you participate in a laughing club?
Could your class benefit from a laughing club?
Are video games not respected as much as literature, or even film, because the medium is not as complex? The medium is still very young and is still considered juvenile?
Will video games become the literature of the 21st century?
Was the neuroscience study on humor convincing(196-7)? Is it really a good measure of a person’ s ability to comprehend humor?
The Giants will go as far as Eli takes them.
7 comments:
Matt, I have to admit that I like the idea of a laughing club (I could use one right now). I think the idea is that once you just start laughing, fake laughter soon turns real. I don't think I could help myself if I were surrounded by a bunch of people laughing; it's contaigous!
Thinking about the topic of your second paragraph, do traditional literacies require memorization? I know that when I read a piece of fiction, for example, I assimilate facts and manipulate them based on my own experiences and beliefs. I don't know if video games are different in this sense. Does this make sense?
Yes, Natalie what you wrote makes more sense than what I wrote. Apparently, I'm comparing traditional literacy (a.k.a books) with video games. Of course I agree that when I read I too "assimilate facts and manipulate them based on my own experiences and beliefs." I don't think the mediums are different in that respect. I guess I was thinking that students who are not engaged in the canonized books that they are reading in class are just memorizing facts to pass the class. Thank you for calling me on not making much sense. Sorry,
Matt
In this laughing club, are people laughing at me? If not, then I am game. I think we should have a laughing club this Tuesday. But, the laughing will not be forced; we will be laughing at James, though he will not have a clue. Ha ha Ha!
After reading your posts, I feel like I need to play more video games. The last game I played was GoldenEye.
I think everybody assimilates facts and manipulates them according to personal experiences.
Check my blog over the next day or so to read my post on the canonization of comic books.
Hi Matt, interesting post on your Pink chapter esp. what you say about v. games.
Would I be right to say that in the last almost 2 semesters your thinking about video games and literacy(ie) has evolved significantly?
I'd like to "hear" you talk more about that. K
Professor Stearns, with your encouragement I have had the opportunity to think and write about video games academically. I'm not sure how much my thinking has evolved, but being able to acknowledge video games as an art form has been liberating. However, it is disappointing that I find myself being "the expert" on video games because I seem to be the only one in class who still plays video games on a regular basis.
Really? That's interesting? Why do you think that is? I thought there were other gamers in our class.
But then you're in a class by yourself Matt.
How about some new blog content. What did you think of Will?
Still browsing for new content...and new pics of that sweet pup. K
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