Patra needs to re-think his comedy

This is actually pretty funny stuff by Mr. Patra [in the July 26 column “Think before you laugh”]. He is acting like there is an actual baseline with which to determine what is funny. I could care less for Carlos Mencia so I will choose to defend his second target Dane Cook. If he weren’t so blind to his own disdain he would know in the joke about the atheist does not end at the tree. It’s quite a tale that leads to the man being buried, then decomposing and finally coming back as a tree through the process of actually having a tree grow from the nutrients taken from his body. The joke is that Cook says he hopes that the man is cut down and used to makeBibles, the irony is what makes it a joke and honestly an unexpected twistwhen I heard the bit the first time. Also, when did it become paramount tohave entertainment confined to only things that can actually happen? Ifthis were the case I should probably get on the phone with Hollywood anddemand my money back because I’m pretty sure that a lot of what they showin their movies and TV shows would not occur in real life. I’m notsurprised because it’s summer and the paper is testing out writers for thefall. I think we can weed this one out or at least teach him how to docomplete research before blasting someone who is pretty successful intheir own right.

Bernard ThomasJunior, Communication

Patra’s analysis of the comedic styles of Dane Cook is one of ignoranceand no response. Patra says that Cook is bad because all he does is juststupid faces and makes stupid sounds. This argument is, well, stupid. Bothof these techniques are merely adding to his humor. If you have listenedto his standup on a CD it is obvious that his humor is just as strong with nofacial expressions. As far as the sounds, lots of comedians use soundsto support their jokes. The fact that they’re not absolutely accurate tothe actual sound Cook is trying to imitate adds to the joke because he isnot serious about the sound. He knows this and expects you to know thistoo. What makes Cook funny is his delivery. He doesn’t really need to tella joke because his delivery is excellent and completely original. Combine thatwith jokes that are funny on their own merit and you have one of thefunniest comedians ever. The atheist story is great because it followsPatra’s very own recipe for a joke, likely situation, someone sneezed,then reverse expectations, the atheist makes some snide commit back to himabout how he doesn’t believe in God. The long improbable story thatfollows adds to this. Just because you don’t think it could happen doesn’tmean it lost any of its merit, you think all comedians tell true storieson stage? But wait, I must be simple for getting a joke like this andshould just go back to watching the drinking bird. Oh wait a minute,Patra’s no better then Mencia .Anyone who has watched the Simpson’s knowsthat was an obvious play on the drinking bird that Homer’s brotherentertains Homer for hours with.

Paul KendallSenior, Nuclear engineering