The law of the jungle...

 Clowns, power, gorillas and transparency... 

I was going to write a newsletter on clowning and our PM, but I am sure you all already know what a skilled clown he is...

Comedians and clowns are marvelously manipulative and in my opinion, Johnson’s ability to employ some comedy skills - especially buffoonery - helped win him an election.

Undoubtedly there were also other aspects that supported his campaign, but I do believe that Johnson’s guffawing, grinning, and apparent bumbling - acting the fool - made him attractive to many. Sigh. More bumble than a bee some might say.

I am unsure that writing about the hows and whys of how clowning won Johnson the job is useful right now, but suffice to say, humour had a powerful role in gaining leverage.

Clowning and comedy stick like glue. Gorilla glue sticks like mud and strong bonds can add momentum with a hotter-than-phaal-curry kick... perhaps it should come with a ‘hot to handle’ caution when dealing with friend and foe. With power comes responsibility. "Power attracts the worst and corrupts the best" - Ragnar Lothbrok (The Vikings)

It occurred to me that the ranking inside the House of Parliament isn’t dissimilar to those of the systems within gorilla colonies (I love gorillas btw). And that the hierarchy is tiered and organised by skill, presence and appeal; an 'arrangement' which gives the appearance of being in favour of the whole community. But this is where the similarities between men and ape may end.

"When gorillas smell danger, they run around and call out to the rest of the primates in the jungle to warn them something evil is coming. And when one of their own dies, they mourn for days while beating themselves up in sadness for failing to save that gorilla, even if the cause of death was natural. And when one colony is mourning, their chilling echoes migrate to other colonies — and those neighbors, even if they are territorial rivals, will also grieve with them. When faced with a common danger, rivals turn into allies. And when faced with death, the loss of just one gorilla becomes the loss of the entire jungle.”  Poet Suzy Kassem.

My point here is that the skill of crafting and performing comedy can be used to create empathic relationships, help us unite, feel better and bond just like the symbioses of the gorillas dominion. And the glue.

If only there was someone in power who not only had the ability to make us laugh - but also cared (and to which mud did not stick...)

Elect me?

I was once King Kong’s wife at Philippe Gaulier’s Clown School (see pic above). Oh, the power.

Just joking!

I will leave you with these fun facts (WWF) about gorillas... nuances in brackets as possible Parliamentary nods/winks to some...

1. AROUND 1,063 gorillas EXIST IN THE WILD (650 members of parliament... 765 Lords – domestic or wild? You decide!)

2. Gorillas LIVE IN TWO ISOLATED GROUPS (the real world and...?)

3. We share around 98% of our DNA with Gorillas (and some politicians share 98% of theirs with?)

4. Gorillas are one of the biggest and most powerful primates. An average male mountain gorilla can weigh 180kg; that’s almost 30 stone. (I’m saying nothing)

5. Gorillas can eat all day long (especially during lockdowns?)

6. Gorillas cozy up at night. (See above)

7. Gorillas have 16 different types of call. (Politicians have a Socio-political Influencers?)

8. Gorillas live in family groups. (Fill in the blank...)

9. In the wild, gorilla’s can live to over 40 years old, apparently reaching adult maturity at 8 years. (BJ is in his third year as Prime Minister - again - fill in the blank!)

10. Gorillas are under threat... (*cough* as we consider what may also be under threat)

I’ll leave you with this - and as usual - cheers from Maggie and the Comedy Matters team:

 “The more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid people.”

― Dian Fossey

Want to contest 'his' premiership?  Come along to one of my comedy or clown classes and learn some of the tricks of the trade!

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COMING UP!

May 11 - 6 week ONLINE COMEDY COURSE

 

Stand Up / Clowning Workshops at Exeter's Phoenix:

 Saturday 25 June 2022, 10:00 - 4.30

AND

Saturday 10 September 2022, 10:00 - 4.30