Ligottian humor

[dr. locrian]

Just now I happened upon this great bit from Ligotti about humor in "Interview Nonsense with Thomas Ligotti" (2009):

Quote

I once wrote to someone that humor in horror stories makes their blackness blacker still. I believe this is the case with the nonsense philosophy of the narrator of “The Clown Puppet.” His ranting about everything being nonsense is indeed humorous to the reader, or to certain readers, but it’s not humorous to him. He’s dead serious, which is one of the things that make his ranting comical: He doesn’t know how he sounds. This is something I stole from Thomas Bernhard, whose demented and outraged characters aren’t aware of being demented or that the intensity of their outrage is very funny. However, when you step back and stop laughing, you realize that their dementia and outrage is coming from a black place, a very bad place. But we usually pull up short of stepping back that far. We do the same thing in our lives. As you said, humor is one of our sanctuaries, one of our ways of lying to ourselves. And if you don’t engage readers with humor or suspense or some other narrative hook, then no one will read you. You’ll be dismissed as someone who doesn’t share the life-view of the crushing majority of his fellows. You’ll be laughed off as a crank. Buddha is often portrayed as an obese jolly fellow. Yet the revelation that set him on the road to that jolliness was that life is miserable. Any exceptional humorist must know that before he can tell joke number one. Buddha is also portrayed as a slender serene figure who has left all humor behind him. It’s so much easier to be jolly than it is to be serene—seriously serene, humorless. So which would you rather be?

[dr. locrian]

Quote Originally Posted by LeglessSaltyDiogenes

Since a great and swollen Autumn is here, when do you guys and gals read Ligotti? I usually end up reading him at night, after working on music all day, but then I often can't sleep. I was thinking around 5 or 6 o clock to be better, as the shadows lengthen and one of Lovecraft's famous sunsets fills the sky.

Oh, I used to read Ligotti's work at night, mostly when I was younger. Now I read it whenever I get a chance.

[LeglessSaltyDiogenes]

Quote

Buddha is also portrayed as a slender serene figure who has left all humor behind him. It’s so much easier to be jolly than it is to be serene—seriously serene, humorless. So which would you rather be?

This is great, thanks. I do wonder though, whether Buddhist dogma obscures the nature of enlightened people. Some highly realized fellows, monks even, are some of the jolliest people I've ever seen. Shinzen Young for instance, has a blooper vid of himself farting while giving dharma talks, and then goes on about how his students should be grateful for this gift of "prana" from the master.

[When_MP_Attacks]

After Hours Trailer - YouTube

[kowal]

since this is a "Ligottian Humor" i have, maybe, a stupid question but does Thomas Ligotti laugh? reading all his works and interviews he definitely does have a good dose of sense of humor, but from the other hand knowing his 'world vision' he might be just making jokes and remain 'impassive'

[gveranon]

Quote Originally Posted by kowal

since this is a "Ligottian Humor" i have, maybe, a stupid question but does Thomas Ligotti laugh? reading all his works and interviews he definitely does have a good dose of sense of humor, but from the other hand knowing his 'world vision' he might be just making jokes and remain 'impassive'

He never laughs, but coffee does come out of his nose occasionally.

[ramonoski]

Quote Originally Posted by kowal

since this is a "Ligottian Humor" i have, maybe, a stupid question but does Thomas Ligotti laugh?

From Horror Talks with Thomas Ligotti - THE NIGHTMARE NETWORK

LIGOTTI: Noctuary is just the usual collection of previously printed stories, with the exception of a new story called “The Tsalal.” It’s the longest story in the book, and it’s about (laughs), excuse me, it’s about (laughing loudly), I can barely…it’s about the strange goings-on in a creepy small town! (laughs uncontrollably!).

[xylokopos]

I find the feud between Mrs. Glimm and Mrs. Pyk hilarious. Not just the bungled assassination attempt but how one hotel is more respectable than the other because it does not double as a brothel.

The funniest of Ligotti's stories, however, is Teatro Grottesco. I am thinking of the scene where the photographer walks into the offices of the Teatro and finds a receptionist and brochures on the table explaining how TG Ventures offers entertainment services and that their specialty is children's parties.

[kowal]

thanks gveranon & ramonoski