Uncyclopedia:Featured articles/September 29

Comedy is a constantly evolving creature. What was once funny in olden times may be met with blank stares and drooling today. This is because the human mind has become more sophisticated with every passing year, despite evidence to the contrary. Society has innovated, and as comedy is a significant part of any civilization, what humors society has innovated along with it.

Explored in this article are several of the most notable ways comedy has innovated over the years.

• Old: Bob gets hit in the face with a cream pie.
• New: Bob gets hit in the face with a cream pie. Bob dies.
• What's changed: This is what is referred to as “dark comedy.” That means it should make you think. The first hypothetical is merely a gag, with no substance to it at all. Our Bob merely experiences some minor humiliation and a bit of a mess to clean up. It elicits some chuckles, but otherwise nothing is gained or lost. In the new, innovative form of comedy, Bob is not only embarrassed, but is also dead. This is still funny, but for a much different reason: it reminds us of our impending mortality, while not being all wordy about it. Plus, it provokes much thought in the viewer, such as “What if I got hit in the face with a lethal pie?”, or the much more enlightening “What if I hit my boss in the face with a lethal pie?” Ultimately it enriches us, and makes our laughter much more real. (Full article...)