Pythonesqe

Meredith EntrikinCIS 1020-24Pythonesqe:The Art of Humor1Its only a Flesh Wound!One of the most well known lines

Others that are well-knowWe are the Knights who say Ni!Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, you know what I mean?Always look on the bright side of lifeQuite a few of you might be familiar with this line. Its rather well known, but if you dont know it, maybe a picture will help. Im sure most of you by now will recognize it. If you dont maybe some more lines will help.

We are the knights who say Ni! - This also came from the same movie.Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, you know what I mean? - This actually came from the TV show by the same comedy troupe. A lot of people might have heard this before but not realized where it came from.Always look on the bright side of life This one has to be sung, of course. Another one that people might be familiar with but have no idea where it originated from.2Monty Python is the most influential comedy troupe in modern times, even all the way here in America.Mission StatementWell, if you hadnt guessed I am was referring to Monty Python, the comedy troupe. I am proposing to you today that they are the most influential troupe of our modern times.

Just as those quotes might have rung a bell, but you couldnt place them were they came from, thats because Monty Python is quoted, mimicked and referenced at a pretty constant rate. There might have been numerous other comedians that are famous, but as a group I can not think of anyone else who is still so heavily used from inspiration over 40 years later.3Who is Monty Python?Group of six comedians

Graham ChapmanJohn CleeseTerry GilliamEric IdleTerry JonesMichael Palin

If you are not familiar with them, you might be wondering who exactly is Monty Python.

They were a group of six comedians who originally met at such prestigious colleges as Cambridge and Oxford.*List Names*The only one of the group who was not British was Terry Gilliam. He was an American and is most well know for the animation sequences between and often part of their sketches. He did also have screen time. They were often small parts, but memorable, such as the old man in front of the bridge in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.4The Flying Circus

The Flying Circus was the brainchild of these comedic geniuses. It was a self contained kind of project with the actors also being the writers of the sketches.

The first episode aired in October 5, 1969 and eventually ended in December 5, 1974.There were a total of 4 season, with a total of 45 episodes.

I tired to pin down a date for the first airing of Monty Python here in the US, but not only could I not find an exact date I even found some websites stating it first aired in 1975, a whole year later.I do know that it first aired on PBS from a station that broadcast out of Dallas.By 1975 130 different markets were airing Monty Python and the US started developing a cult following. It was actually this US following that prompted the group to get together again and start filming movies.5The MoviesThe Holy Grail, 1975Life of Brian, 1979Meaning of Life, 1983

There are actually 5 theatrical releases, but 3 of them were technically new material. The very first was And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) was a reshot of some of sketches from the first and second season of the TV show, and the second was Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) which was a recording of the group performing in front of a live audience.

The 3 releases that had the most impact wereThe Holy GrailLife of BrianThe Meaning of Life

The Holy Grail is probably the most well known of the 3 but if one is aware you can find scenes and references lifted out of the the other 2 almost as frequently. What is surprising to find out is a portion of the funding for The Holy Grail was contributed from groups such Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Led Zeppelin.

The follow-ups storyline was actually decided in a rather off-handed way. The group was constantly being asked by reporters what their next movie was going to be about, when they realized that answering with Jesus Christ often shut them, they kept saying it until they actually began considering it.

If you have never seen the TV show, out of the 3 movies the Meaning of Life is most structured like it. It has more of the sketch comedy style. The picture on this slide come from one of the most well-know scenes of this movie. One of the lines people probably know from this sketch is John Cleese doing is French Accent again and goading the already full restaurant patron to eat just one more bite by stating it is only wafer thin.6What is Monty Python Humor?

The title of my presentation uses the term Pythonesqe which is actually a term that is actually in certain Dictionaries to refer to the type of humor characterized by the Monty Python troupe.One of the elements of Pythonesqe is its Chaotic and random nature. I have often heard of characterized by the anarchist. Such examples of this is how they decided to introduce to characters to skit that seemed to have no relevance to the scene, like in the Spanish Inquistion. Prior to their entrance on to the screen a couple is who is having a seemingly normal conversation, its only by uttering the phrase I didnt expect the kind of Spanish inquisition that they actually do appear.Their type of humor is often explain with the term surreal. Its the type of absurd situations that seem totally beyond reality and to never actually happen in real life. Take the Dead Parrot sketch, a person who would actually purchase a dead parrot seem highly unlikely, and to make things even more unlikely the pet store owner actually argues the point that the parrot is indeed dead.One element that is almost constant because it is a underlying theme in most sketches is satirical nature of British sociological perspective. The social class in many ways was rigid in a way that might seem unrelatable in a country like ours which is always had a more progressive stance and willing to change. But England has a longer history and less of penchant for change. The Pythons constantly make fun of this whether it is the ridicules boards and ministries that run every minute part of the country to the often drab and boring way the middle-class often led their lives. The Ministry of Silly Walks makes a great point of how ridicules the official governing body could be. But one of my favorite references is to charter accountants and how stagnant and boring they can be.One of the main point of the troupe was to create a style of comedy that could not be categorized. Its this idea that made Michael Palin actually say that he cant stand that there is actually a term Pythonesqe because it means they utterly failed at their attempted to be categorized.7

GamesToysFoodWhere Can You See Monty Python?With such a unique brand of humor where can you see its effects today?

There are games that are largely based on their humor. Not just official games, which there are, but also inspired games like Killer Bunnies, which makes reference to the killer bunny at the end of The Holly Grail. It has turned into a big series that goes beyond its Monty Python spoof, but that where it started.

You can find almost every toy you can imagine, there are key chains, as the picture shows, action figures of the black Knight with removable limbs, there are stuffed killer bunnies, some even covered in blood for a realist effect.

And as unimaginable as it might be, it has even inspired food. The Ben & Jerrys is one example, another is an beer produced by the Black Sheep brewery and named The Holy Grail, with the gr scratched off, leaving ail.8Theatrics

Spamalot Not The Messiah

Besides merchandise, there is also a recent boom of theatrical productions such as Spamalot, which if you couldnt tell is largely based on The Holly Grail. To attest to the fact that people still want to see Python related material, during the initial run it grossed over $175 million and was seen by more than two million people in over 1500 performances.

More recently Eric Idle largely put together Not the Messiah with is oratorio which is similar to an opera. The title is actually a spoof on Handels Messiah. They style is more narrative and mostly musical in style. It has been performed in such prestigious music halls as the Sydney Opera House and Royal Albert Hall. It can also be found on DVD at the local Blockbuster. There is still new Monty Python to be had.9Voted Most Influential British Comedy Series of All Time by UKTV GoldHow Influential is Monty Python?

Term Spam for junk emailFossil named Montypythoniodes riversleighensis

So if that wasnt enough to show the influence Monty Python is having on us, how else is Monty Python Influencing us.Well, UKTV Gold has voted Monty Python Most.. in 2005.

A well used term spam is crediting from coming from Monty Python. In one of the sketches a couple goes to a restaurant that servers spam, spam, spam, spam, eggs, and spam and cumulates in Vikings singing about how much they like spam. So literally a term we use almost everyday was influenced by them.

Even in such far reach places as fossil names Monty Python has its effect. In 1985, a paleontologist who was fan named this acient giant snake after the group.

10Entertainment Weekly, 2005

Saturday Night Live Tina FeyKids in the Hall Kevin McDonaldCheech and Chong Tommy ChongThey were the first to really show the world how funny men dressed as woman would look.

Entertainers InfluencedPeople who we can see the influence in the most, of course is comedians and creators and writers of comedic shows. In 2005 Entertainment Weekly interviewed numerous stars to find out if they had been influenced by the troupe and how.

SNL - Of course, the whole show itself is influenced by Monty Python as the whole sketch show largely became popular after Monty Python arrived on our shores. But even cast members as recent as Tina Fey have said how much the influenced them as an individual performer.

Kids in the hall A lot of you might not be familiar with them, but the were a comedy troupe who had a show that aired in Canada from 1988-1994. Their style was largely based on The Flying Circus all the way down to dressing up as women.

Which Leads to the next influenced comedy group

Cheech and Chong I love this quote.11Austin Powers Mike MyersEverything Ive ever done can be distilled to at least one Python sketch. If comedy had a periodic table, Python would have more than one atom on it.The Simpsons Creator Matt GroeningThe Daily Show Stephen CalbertSouth Park Matt Trey and Stone Parker

A more obvious influence would be The Simpsons, the way the scenes are often cut are reminiscencent of the Flying Circus, especially when the show cuts to the people that are referenced to by the main characters.

In the Daily show you can see a lot of the same deadpan delivery of absurd lines that made Monty Python so unique.

With South Park their whole animation style is almost directly lifted from Terry Gilliams animations.

Some else who also spoofed British society, Mike Myers offers up this great quote.12Monty Python ReferencesBesides famous comedians you can see actually references to specific skits, or the whole darn skits ripped off in numerous shows. Even kids shows like Veggie Tales and Finding Nemo can resist.

Then are modern British movies that have to make homage to their roots, such as Hot Fuzz.

Of course Family Guy makes reference to almost every cultural icon, and certainly Monty Python is not left out.

I think the one that was most surprising to me was Star Wars. Now admittedly it is vague, but none the less, even George Lucas can resist making references to Monty Python!

Even Other Iconic Movies Spoof it!

13We are still laughing about Monty Python and we didnt even know it!

Now that you have seen how much Monty Python has influenced current comedy and performers now if you are not familiar with there work you can look into it and see the original material!14