The Laughter of the Popular Spectator

Abstract

The Laughter of the Popular Spectator

Abstract

Ethical laughter, that of popular actors, laughs at how far that admired and loved other is able to go. Of course, the ultimate receptor of these actions, in an acting form with an obvious commercial purpose, is the spectator. In this article we will provide some categories to think the relationships that real spectators establish with those who are inscribed in the films addressed. Of course, the most obvious cases are those in which the public is represented in the films (numerous theatral scenes, circus scenes, cabarets or what are called in Mexico “carpas”), but what interests us at this point is to see the ways in which laughter operates as a revolutionary collective articulator between those other spectators who are the other actors who share the scene with the comedian in question. The ethical laughter that arises from admiration for what that other is capable of doing and from the loving acceptance of passions leads to wanting to do the same as that other whom we perceive to be happier, more powerful, more unique, more free. It leads to wanting to be that other and with that other: to compose with him intuitive and unthought relationships that are often experimental and that contain within themselves a revolutionary power whose reach was not always properly measured.

Keywords: Laughter, Popular Spectator, popular actors, films.