Stephanie Corona
Dr. Mary Warner
English 112B
09 May 2011
Funny
Classrooms for Funny Lives: How Humor Heals, Inspires, and Motivates
Some
of the most complicated, confusing, and difficult obstacles in life come in the
transition from childhood to adulthood. Dipping their toes into the adult world
for the first time and consequently making mistakes can be daunting for teens,
and too often many don�t know how to deal with what they encounter in the murky
waters. Young adulthood marks the beginning of self discovery, but who is there
to hold the hands of every young person who discovers something about
themselves they�re not prepared to deal with? Who can gain enough trust from a
sullen, depressed, angry, confused, or broken young adult to be their
confidante? Or their mentor? Or role
model? And how does anyone reach the unreachable teen?
In
a middle school or high school where teachers presumably have over a hundred
students a year it is impossible for them to reach every student, or to even
get the attention of every student. Students who don�t stand out are often
forgotten and left to deal with school—and
life—alone. If there is one way to
reach every student through a universal media, it is through the use of humor.
According to Literature for Today�s Young Adults, humor reaches
everybody because �humor is an obvious emotion, and students are genuinely
interested in figuring out what causes them to smile and laugh.� Humor may be
the simplest way to get the attention of the ones who
don�t pay attention, help the ones who don�t think they need it or don�t know
how to get it, inspire the uninspired, and motivate the unmotivated. It
resonates with every student, and therefore has a universal appeal that no
other genre of literature has.
After
first being gripped by a laugh, young adults can find solace, comfort, advice,
or whatever they may need through the whirlwind of pubescence. For those
dealing with major struggles, especially those who have a hard time speaking
out, humor may be the only way to approach their problems in a non-threatening
way, paving the way to healing. Entangled in the wit, jokes, and quips of funny
young adult literature are often issues prevalent in teens that might be too
difficult to face without the veil of comedy. Being exposed to an issue in a
comedic way relieves the pressure and promotes clear thinking. Seeing how
characters deal with similar difficulties while still managing to keep smiling
may inspire anyone who feels like their unique difficulty is hopeless.
From
first love to coming out, David Levithan and Rachel Cohn cover nearly every
major teen issue while causing raucous laughter in their young adult novels.
Every issue that their characters face ranges from the life-threatening
addictions to the ruin-your-day skin calamity, but besides their characters�
problems, they all have one important common denominator with all young adults:
they have to deal with it. Their characters manage to do so while maintaining
their feet on the ground, their humor in toe, and their heads (sometimes
barely) above water. For this, they become young adults� literary counterparts,
heroes, or best friends. To the ones with or without major issues alike, the
exemplary characters found in Rachel Cohn and David Levithan�s novels, as well
as in humorous works denoted by other authors, show that role models can come
out of a good laugh.
Not
only does humor help young adults deflate the stresses of being a teen, it
promotes reading by entertaining, helps them develop their sense of self, helps
them learn to appreciate and decipher different forms of humor, and improves
their literary analysis skills. If
they are not walking away with the inspiration to save their own lives, they
are at least walking away from a form humorous literature having learned
something and enjoyed it. Whether by Rachel Cohn and David
Levithan or not, humorous young adult literature forms a connection to young
adults through which any message can be communicated.
Works Cited
Cohn,
Rachel, and David Levithan. Dash & Lily's Book of
Dares. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. Print. Likable and crazy
rebel Lily leaves a red moleskin notebook of dares on the shelf of the famous
NYC bookstore, The Strand waiting for the right boy to come along and accept
the dares. Indie and quick-witted mess Dash accepts, and makes a counteroffer
to the strange notebook girl he�s never met: his own list of dares. As the notebook
makes its way back and forth between the two and around NYC, the dares get more
personal and their notebook relationship grows, leaving them to wonder if they
should meet, if their in-person connection can live up to their on-paper
selves, and if they will even life each other outside of the notebook. This
book is an excellent representation of how humor can grab the attention of
young adults who don�t particularly like to read because it�s language is
simple and readable, the characters are average and relatable, and the there is
no threatening sense of major themes, facts, or lessons to be learned. Although
the ultimate reason this book is helpful is because it promotes reading by
being fun, it shows that the anxiety of wanting to be liked is common for
everyone and it is important to be yourself instead of making yourself over to
suit a specific person. Through inner dialogue of Dash and Lily, readers can
gain insight to the commonalities between themselves and their peers, learning
that they are not alone in feeling insecure or wanting to be liked.
Cohn,
Rachel, and David Levithan. Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List: a Novel. New
York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Print. Ely and Naomi are best friends, they�ve
grown up across the street from each other, and they are soul mates. However,
Ely is gay—he thinks. Just in case,
they create a �no kiss list� of boys who are absolutely off limits for both of
them in order to preserve their relationship. When Ely kisses Naomi�s
boyfriend, their loyalty to each other is tested by Ely�s search for himself,
forcing them to examine their priorities and commitment to each other. Many
young adults struggle with their sexuality and how it can affect their
relationships and this novel promotes the importance of self-acceptance and peer
acceptance. By showing Ely as a proud gay teen making mistakes and acting
responsibly to fix them, he is the perfect role model for young gay teens. This
isn�t advice, a cautionary tale, or pamphlet-like list of tips on struggling
with sexuality, it�s a funny inspirational display of a gay teen hero who
doesn�t let his sexuality take over his life.
Cohn,
Rachel, and David Levithan. Nick & Norah's Infinite
Playlist. New York: Knopf, 2007. Print. It all starts when Nick
approaches Norah in a crowded New York venue and asks, �will you be my
girlfriend for five minutes?� Without waiting for an answer, he kisses her,
which begins their impromptu all night first date. With adventures and venue
hopping around NYC, the pair deal with the insecurity,
anxiety, and emotional baggage of previous relationships into the early
morning. Perfect for anyone familiar with the movie adaptation, this book
encourages comparison and contrasting of themes, characters, scenes, and
analysis of what makes something funny in text translate when being heard. With
its vast range of characters, most teens will be able to find one to relate to
and learn something from. Although they all have struggles, they are exemplary
characters who demonstrate that good times with
friends, having a boyfriend/girlfriend, and going out doesn�t have to involve
breaking rules. The characters manage to have what seems like the best night of
their lives while showing that they are intelligent and responsible, proving
that laughing and having fun in high school can just as easily be achieved
without reckless behavior.
Cohn,
Rachel. Gingerbread. New York: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers,
2002. Print. Cyd Charisse has more problems than she has fingers and toes.
After being kicked out of boarding school, she�s back to living with her
(appropriately named) parents, Sid and Nancy, in a chaotic home where she
doesn�t fit in and is forever grounded in Alcatraz (her bedroom). Beside all
this, she goes to New York to find her biological father and neither is what the
other expected. Addressing what it is like to have an unstable home life and
school life makes this book relatable to the most troubled teens. Because Cyd
also deals with not being accepting by her biological parent while not letting
that affect her, it inspires the connection to the real family and a
brush-it-off attitude to unreasonable disapproval. She is a role model for
remaining positive and focused on what matters most to her, regardless living
in a life where she doesn�t fit, click with her parents, or at school.
Cohn,
Rachel. Very LeFreak. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. Print. Very
LeFreak has a name that would cause problems for anyone in high school, but to
tack on academic probation, sleep deprivation, and lack of friends due to a
technology addition causes problems bigger than she can deal with on her own.
In this exaggerated version of what can happen if the technological dependence
among teens worsens, Very is sent to rehab where she has to learn how to
develop a life outside of electronic devices. Her obsession causes her to lose
everything that matters and she must learn to prioritize and find the strength
to put the iPhone down to re-establish her in-person relationships. Very is
smart, strong, independent, and hilarious, so her dependence on technology
shows teens that addiction can happen to anyone. The book deals with addiction
in a refreshing way; it shows that addiction among teens is not exclusive to
drugs or alcohol or only to the �problem� students. By presenting a normal girl
with an uncommon addiction, showing her accepting that she is an addict and
getting help, Very LeFreak has the potential to inspire the closeted
addicts to accept and get help with their addictions. In addition, being
overall light and funny takes the fear out of getting help.
Levithan,
David. Are We There Yet? New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Print. In this
hilarious misadventure, brothers Elijah and Danny must learn to get along once
and for all after their parents send them on a bonding trip to Italy. Told in
true Levithan form, the unusual journey of catastrophic proportions brings the
two people who least got along together. Through suffering girls,
embarrassments, and family obligations together, the two learn they have more
in common than their last names. One of the least addressed relationships for
young adults are the ones with their siblings. Most
resources intended to help teens mend relationships are geared toward
parent-teen, teen-teacher, and teen-peer relationships, but there are few
sources that stress the importance and benefits of siblings. Through the bond
of the brothers who at first seems like polar opposites, teens can see an
example of how to strengthen their sibling relationships and bond over hilarity
the way Danny and Elijah�s bond begins when it seems they have nothing else in
common.
Levithan,
David. Boy Meets Boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. Print. This is
the story of what it�s like for anyone who has a story different than everyone
else�s. In this high school, cheerleaders ride motorcycles, the homecoming
queen is a guy, and the gay-straight alliance is where straight students learn
to dance. Paul falls for Noah, but blows his opportunity. He needs to find a
way to win him back, deal with his religious parents, and the drifting of his
best friend in a school where nothing is stereotypical. This helps motivating the appreciation
of a more sophisticated form of humor. It�s irony and sarcasm is not easily
detected when the setting and characters are unpredictable, making young adults
have to pay close attention to understand. Boy Meets Boy�s uniqueness is
also something new for the young adult who is bored and may feel like they�ve
read everything else.
The
Limousines. "Very Busy People." Rec. 2009. Very
Busy People. Universal Records. MP3. It seems this song covers
everything that makes up the life of a common teen, the good, bad, ugly, and
completely mundane. In catchy verses about trails of pizza boxes, making mix
tapes, and hanging out with new friends, the song wraps up with the conclusion
most teens must come to after a long day of absolutely nothing: �There�s a long
list of chores and shit to do before we play/oh, let�s just piss away the day.�
Every teen can relate as they sing along and forget their problems in the
upbeat tempo, reminding them not to take it all too seriously while realizing
that they are appreciating a different form of literature. Everyone has
problems, from �getting fat from eating candy� to being �numb from playing
video games,� but they don�t seem so catastrophic against the backdrop of good
times with good friends. Being reminded of the good things about life and being
young will have teens singing their troubles away along with the songs final
conclusion: �we are very busy people, but we�ve always got time for new
friends.�
Moore, Jessica. Teen Voice:
Because You Are More than Just a Pretty Face,
Spring/Summer 2011 ed. Print. This is one of the scarce
funny magazine for teens, by teens (mostly), and with
substance, including original poems, stories, advice, art, and collective
knowledge. Their mission statement is speaking the truth to power, which they
manage to do with a no reservation attitude. This season�s 20th
anniversary issue includes the blush worthy, �Sexting: To Do or Not to Do?� and
�Hey, Tom Ford! What�s With the Clothed Men and Naked Women?� The magazine is
an excellent resource for help, advice, and an overall sense of community that
seems to be missing from a lot of young adult lives. It features many different
topics contributed by teens around the world but in such a unifying way that
with every different story the magazine presents the message is that nobody is
alone. Being a non-traditional form of literature including plenty of pictures
and humor is its most powerful attraction. It widens the genre of humor to
magazines, which most teens might not consider constructive reading.
Embarrassing moments and social faux pas are aired inspiring teens to learn
from others� mistakes or brush them off and move on confidently.
Rosenwald,
Laurie. All the Wrong People Have Self
Esteem: [an Inappropriate Book for Young Ladies (or, Frankly, Anybody Else)].
New York: Bloomsbury Children's, 2008. Print. �If you ever felt like you don�t
deserve bottled water, this is for you. If you�re a vegetarian but you eat
meat, this book is for you. If you�ve ever stolen a lipstick, this book is for
you. On the other hand, if you haven�t or you don�t, you should read it anyway
because nobody likes a winner.� This unique non-fiction source answers all the
inappropriate questions they don�t cover in health class and only few dare ask,
from �your breasts, what do they mean?� to �is the world really worth saving?�
with answers that can get you kicked out of yoga. With a humorous approach to
telling the facts, Rosenwald tackles big issues, with real-world examples and
straight to the point answers. The information she provides is textbook worthy,
with the only difference being that it is actually approachable. The content is
solid while the format is non-threatening, making it is easy for young adults
to search through the embarrassing topics they may not want to be seen
searching for.
Woods, Shirley. "A Dimple or a Pimple." Authorsden.com. 2 Oct. 2008. Web. 2 May 2011. <http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=237815&AuthorID=44603>. The poem tells the importance of maintaining a positive self image and a positive attitude by giving importance to what really matters. Through the example of a pimple, Woods illustrates that being good to oneself is paramount because after all, a pimple is a body�s way of telling you what�s really going on inside. Most importantly, the poem explains that a pimple, or any other problem, is only as big as the amount of space it takes up (in your mind). By poking fun at a common problem that can sometimes ruin the self esteem of a teen entirely, Wood�s poem is beneficial to any teen with self-image issues. Through a catchy rhyme scheme she encourages the focus on positive aspects of the self, something teens often forget to do. Instead of providing a cure or telling anyone what to do, the poem teaches to work with what you have and remember that its only as big of a deal as the individual makes it.
A DIMPLE OR A PIMPLE by Shirley Woods
Isn't life grand when you have a clear face of beauty with a touch of confidence within. It must be nice when one has dimples rather than pimples. Well, here I am to save the day, to keep those nasty pimples away. I'm here to share the secret of beauty, charm and preserverence. One must excerise their inner peace of happiness by loving oneself unconditionally.One can focus on well-being inside your heart and in your mind. Feel beautiful inside and outside. Always be positive. The power of the pimple will only exsist if you give focus to the space that it is on. No matter how small or how large it is. It's only as large as you make it in your mind.As we know pimples are a sign of stress that tells your body, it needs to rest. Turn your attention to the beautiful being that you are and concentrate on your lushes lashes and your apple-shaped eyes. Look into the mirror and say to yourself, I'm here and alive, with my dimpled-shape nose it's time for me to strike a pose!