Comedy ages very quickly. I’ll be interested to see how Pratchett is regarded in 20 years, but I don’t have a lot of hope.
I wouldn’t be that pessimistic. As far as British humorous writers go: Douglas Adams wrote decades ago (and died >12 years ago), and he seems to still be regarded as pretty funny. I read the Hitchhiker books 4 or 5 years ago, and enjoyed them. People still enjoy Monty Python and that’s pushing half a century now.
Acknowledged up to a point. Adams is still highly regarded, but you certainly lose something even at this remove (e.g. the opening line about a species so primitive they still thought digital watches were a good idea falls flat, at least for me). While some Python sketches are funny, I’ve read that the BBC felt the series as a whole wasn’t funny enough to re-run.
Yes, some of it will age, but a lot of it still remains. I found The Birds somewhat funny when I read it, and it’s, what, 2200 years old now?
While some Python sketches are funny, I’ve read that the BBC felt the series as a whole wasn’t funny enough to re-run.
I have the full boxed set of the TV series and have watched it through. I don’t blame them for not re-running the whole thing (it’s huge!), and it’s also not very ‘dense’. But I think if they were willing to edit it down, it could be competitive. Some of the Python sketches are very funny.
If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am: I’m a genuine philanthropist—all other kinds are sham. Each little fault of temper and each social defect In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavour to correct. To all their little weaknesses I open people’s eyes, And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise; I love my fellow-creatures—I do all the good I can - Yet everybody says I’m such a disagreeable man! And I can’t think why!
To compliments inflated I’ve a withering reply, And vanity I always do my best to mortify; A charitable action I can skilfully dissect; And interested motives I’m delighted to detect. I know everybody’s income and what everybody earns, And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns; But to benefit humanity, however much I plan, Yet everybody says I’m such a disagreeable man! And I can’t think why!
I’m sure I’m no ascetic; I’m as pleasant as can be; You’ll always find me ready with a crushing repartee; I’ve an irritating chuckle, I’ve a celebrated sneer, I’ve an entertaining snigger, I’ve a fascinating leer; To everybody’s prejudice I know a thing or two; I can tell a woman’s age in half a minute—and I do - But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can, Yet everybody says I’m such a disagreeable man! And I can’t think why!
You say you want it, but your revealed preferences indicate otherwise: I bet you could cash in on a cryonics hour for that 5-minute song. And he’ll let you record it and distribute it. But you haven’t even signed up for cryonics yet, have you?
My reason for not signing up for cryonics is that I don’t think I have the money to do so; I have savings, but no significant income.
In other words: I want it, but not as much as I want twenty thousand dollars (or however much a cryonics membership will actually cost me over a lifetime). In the future, I might be able to afford ongoing insurance payments, but that is not something I want to start today.
I wouldn’t be that pessimistic. As far as British humorous writers go: Douglas Adams wrote decades ago (and died >12 years ago), and he seems to still be regarded as pretty funny. I read the Hitchhiker books 4 or 5 years ago, and enjoyed them. People still enjoy Monty Python and that’s pushing half a century now.
Now, 200 years is a different story.
Acknowledged up to a point. Adams is still highly regarded, but you certainly lose something even at this remove (e.g. the opening line about a species so primitive they still thought digital watches were a good idea falls flat, at least for me). While some Python sketches are funny, I’ve read that the BBC felt the series as a whole wasn’t funny enough to re-run.
Yes, some of it will age, but a lot of it still remains. I found The Birds somewhat funny when I read it, and it’s, what, 2200 years old now?
I have the full boxed set of the TV series and have watched it through. I don’t blame them for not re-running the whole thing (it’s huge!), and it’s also not very ‘dense’. But I think if they were willing to edit it down, it could be competitive. Some of the Python sketches are very funny.
For an even older example of British humor that’s still funny, try Gilbert and Sullivan. They’re about 100 years old.
Getting closer to 150; Gilbert and Sullivan were both dead 100 years ago.
I want a video of Robin Hanson singing this song:
You say you want it, but your revealed preferences indicate otherwise: I bet you could cash in on a cryonics hour for that 5-minute song. And he’ll let you record it and distribute it. But you haven’t even signed up for cryonics yet, have you?
My reason for not signing up for cryonics is that I don’t think I have the money to do so; I have savings, but no significant income.
In other words: I want it, but not as much as I want twenty thousand dollars (or however much a cryonics membership will actually cost me over a lifetime). In the future, I might be able to afford ongoing insurance payments, but that is not something I want to start today.