Is all art political? Does comedy have any place in a dystopian world? Is it wrong to laugh when so many people are suffering?
In “The Name of the Rose” Umberto Eco says, “Laughter foments doubt.” This idea is central to the book’s plot and the key to the medieval murder mystery that unfolds in its labyrinthine exploration of knowledge, wisdom, and gatekeeping. It’s a book for people who love reading, with a secret library that will make your spine tingle. It’s not a funny book, but rather a book that appreciates the gentleness and openness of approaching life with humor, the value of relaxing harsh judgements and avoiding knee-jerk reactions, and the need for joy in the darkest of times (the Dark Ages, quite literally).
“We Were All In Agreement” is the title of my new story available free to read online as of election day in the US, a day that left many people devastated and in absolutely no mood to laugh. It’s a quick read, a horror comedy piece I originally wrote for an informal contest. The challenge was to cheer up a colleague by writing the best/worst horror sex story. While I wanted to be horrible, I also wanted to be sex positive. Everything in this story is consensual.
The original piece cheered up my friend, and- I won a t-shirt!! I’m a simple guy. I’m still thrilled about that t-shirt.
I decided to expand the piece somewhat, and in the process made it oh so much worse. And better. I’m going to keep writing and sharing regardless of current events because even the most frivolous art makes a little dent in the hegemony and foments a little doubt.
Read “We Were All In Agreement” in Die Laughing Literary Magazine.
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Horrorsong 