Humor Can Reclaim & Assert Power
Humor Can Reclaim & Assert Power
Sometimes humor can be used to not let the past darkness win over an enlightened present or a bright future.
I like laughing. Who doesn’t?
When I wrote my memoir (launch date next Tuesday, May 14th), a lot of humor was intentionally laced throughout the book. I don’t know, but some readers may find that surprising, given the topics' seriousness in several ways.
I found humor surprising when I first ran into Augusten Burroughs's memoir, “Running With Scissors” (also made into a film). I have read several of his works, and in any given traumatic story, the man can make the reader laugh out loud, cry with empathy, and be mortified that they are laughing at what would normally be a very inappropriate time. But yet, in his retelling of the tale, he inserts the sometimes dark/sardonic humor on purpose... and I get it. I appreciate it.
I have always written the same way regarding my personal life. I can relate to Augusten and the concept that the funniest people are usually abuse survivors or have had trauma in their lives in some capacity.
For me, It’s not only a way of taking back the power that was stolen in the first place, it’s also a way of asserting power and not letting the past darkness win over an enlightened present or a bright future.
Given that my native language is “snarky,” my memoir has quite a bit of sardonic humor. I am confident many readers will be chuckling along with me.
