I was going to try to tie the election into today's post, but after twelve out of fourteen ads during Jeopardy were campaign ads, I realized that I have no desire to give either of the candidates that satisfaction. Just make sure you go vote today.
And now, on to more important things, like bathos.
Bathos is a Greek term that refers to an abrupt shift in style from a place of grandeur to the realm of the mundane. When it's accidental, it's a little awkward, but when it's done intentionally, well-executed bathos is a great source of surreal or absurdist humor.
If you've got a scene in your gangster story where, in a tense moment, the mob don picks up his pistol and pulls the trigger, only for a flame to lick up because he needs to light his cigarette and discuss the breakfast burrito that he's dreaming about, that's an example of bathos.
Alexander Pope was a champion of bathos use, and there are some great examples of bathos in this well-known blog post that cites winners of a Washington Post humor contest for analogies.
Let's just hope that after the past few months of being inundated by political ads that we can return to our lives and then the political bathos can begin again. Or something.
PRACTICE
Well, this should be fun. Let's get political, shall we? Use bathos to describe an undecided/frustrated/impassioned voter walking up to the polls. Write for fifteen minutes, and post your practice in the comments. Leave notes for your fellow writers, but let's keep it civil, shall we?
I was thinking of blogging about bathos! 😀
“Honey, let’s make a deal. Since in reality we will be cancelling each other’s votes tomorrow, why don’t we just not vote, saving us the time wasted standing in that long line.”
He thought about his wife’s suggestion for a moment and agreed. He had a lot on his plate, so not voting would free him up to finish the project that was hovering over his head at work. He had gotten so behind.
The next morning on the way to the office, he passed the polling place where he usually voted. The line of voters circled half way around the building. He pitied the poor saps who were having to stand out in the drizzle. He arrived at work and got busy with his project. He was energized by the thought of not having to vote.
Some time during lunch, he began to obsess on the election. He really, really hoped that his candidate would win. He looked around him and saw everyone sporting “I Voted” stickers on their lapel, and he started feeling ashamed of himself. So he decided he’d go ahead and vote, but just not tell his wife. What she didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt her. Besides, this election was much too important.
As he pulled up to the polling place, he said a little prayer that he could get in and out without running into anyone he knew. He would never hear the end of it if Ann found out. But unfortunately, there was a mob of people there calling his name, “Mitt, Mitt, Mitt!”
Ha, love the surprise ending, Tom!
The list is very funny. I have been sick all week and this really made my day.
November seventh 2012, Election Day.
Dear Gwen,
This day was horrible. I mean sure, an election is always full of surprises and the suspense when your waiting to see if your country will be riding on the back of the elephant or the donkey can be quite thrilling, but the actual action of voting is such a hassle!
First of all you have to get from your house to the polls office without getting asked who you’re voting for, and believe me, thats like Aquaman trying to save the world without hearing fish quips, not going to happen. Then when you finally get there you have to wait in line, which is always long and boring, but add the endless discussions of who would win and why that other guy could not win and you’ve got yourself a wait that would even make a zombie shoot its brains out.
When I finally got to the desk, I had to give my id to some old guy who probably knew what colour Hitler’s underpants were, he made me wait for a few minutes before giving me my ballot and then made me go into a stinky cubicle so I could at last put a little check mark next to that guy with the Dumbo ears. And then, to top that wondrous occasion, I got into my car, and as if Lady Luck was off on a vacation in Honolulu, it broke.
Anyway, sorry for the ramblings, I cant wait to see you this weekend.
Love, your Uncle Joe.
Ps: Do not forget the old tapes of your dad and me.