Inside No. 9, black humour, morals
Morning all, typing as I watch “Last Night of the Proms” from the current series of Inside No. 9
Last Night at the Proms
It is a dreary wet Friday morning and I’m watching on the other monitor a somewhat surreal episode of Inside No. 9. It is always nice to see people weirder than me…. Though I do wonder where they get their ideas from. (I am quite capable of thinking up some “mad” stuff.")
Anyway, hope all and sundry are well in these “continuing” times; which are trying for everyone. And this is where is the Black Humour comes in to take us into a different world that allows us to reflect on life’s absurdity, and places in context our own lives that we can laugh at when good and bad. I think we all need a touch of Black Humour to get us through life as it exposes the true reality and farce, and that nothing really is that important. Or that there is a situation worse than your own, or honestly more crazy than yours. It is good to be levelled out via Black Humour and realise life naturally bites you on the bottom at the best of times.
This particular episode of Inside No. 9 also reminds us of the split morality we can face as people when a person is in need, not to mention the flaws within each and everyone of us when dealing with a person in need.
Brexit and Covid, and now Brexit (again) has frazzled many, created a sense of ennui, and separated people. Morality has been called into question as people dealt with the separation from Europe and pandemic in questionable or self seeking ways. Black Humour exposes this and we can make comparisons of art imitating life and vice versa. (Read Catch 22 - see below.)
If you can specifically read Slaughterhouse-Five then I’d recommend it. The novel (and film) have somewhat disappeared from popular consciousness. It is good to be reminded of morals in a time of disruption and need, as people and morals do and can fall by the wayside. In the case of the novel it is a war setting and not dissimilar to a pandemic or the shifting borders of Brexit. I think now is a time to give, to help, to put one’s own needs aside where possible; but do make time for yourself as your welfare is paramount as well.
We in advertising, media, and marketing are a somewhat lucky lot, with what is normally a well paid, robust, and established business. We reap the rewards. But we can also be selfish. This is why Black Humour is important to expose what can be the pettiness or insular life we may be living, which needs changing. Do you see parallels? And with that maybe in the day job? (Needed to bring it back to Found Us and job seeking.)
A new job can be a way of engendering change. In oneself and one’s actions. So, have a think about it:
Can a new job break a cycle that I need to break to allow me to play to my “A” skills and experience?
Can a new job create happiness?
Can a new job allow me to give back instead of taking?
Does a new job give me a kick up the arse I need as I have drifted in more ways than one?
Have I become a self-seeking soul in torment as the role drives me against core values?
Do I give a s**t anyway? Discuss.
Some Recommended Material:
If you really fancy reading some black humour to understand how life has its vagaries, your own vagaries and flaws, and morality (including amoral) I suggest the following.