Monty Python Predicts the Future – Comedy Becomes Reality???

It is amazing how many forms of entertainment appear to predict the future. Now I’m not about to address the issues with The Simpsons, but in general I believe I have an idea about some of what is going on. But first, please enjoy this linked video from Monty Python’s Life of Brian so that you’ll understand the context.

Even if you are very familiar with it, I'd still suggest that you refresh your memory and watch it. It'll only take less than 2 minutes.

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Yes, many of us have already been exposed to the comedy “Monty Python”. Whether it was their Flying Circus, The Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life, Monty Python the Holy Grail, or some other comedy, Monty Python has been making many laugh ever since they first came out.

Even when @ned was requesting good questions to be answered in a post about making a steemit wiki and FAQ sheet, “What is the average airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?” quickly appeared on the list of suggested questions to have answered thanks to @inertia. Well, @ned obviously recalled this memorable moment in the “Holy Grail” movie because he quickly replied back with “african or european?"

It is interesting to compare this old comedy sketch with what has now become our reality. One of the first things that we notice is that Eric Idle’s character “Stan” is attempting to be very Politically Correct in a situation where the others seem to be less familiar with the concept. Quite frankly, they present it in an absurd and humorous way. I can understand a woman firefighter or police officer not wanting to be called a “fireman” or “police man”, but it seems that we still allow such phrases as humanity and mankind. Even the human race is still referred to as just that, with the word man being the root. As far as I know, these words have remained, though perhaps I am just ignorant about this matter. Personally, I’m fine with being a member of the human race, but that’s just me, and I am a man.

If you also noticed, “Stan” is preoccupied with being PC and making sure that women are not left out because he wants to be a woman. His motivation for this is that he wants to have babies. Though he has no womb, he is still allowed the right to have babies and is now called “Loretta”. These things, being presented in a humorous way in the sketch which was released in 1979, have now become very serious social issues in our day and age.

In some places, you could even face a lawsuit and fine if you refused to call "Stan" by the name of his (or her) preference, "Loretta."

If you paid attention to how this segment of the video ended, you’ll notice that “Loretta’s” predicament is said to be “symbolic of our struggle against oppression,” "Reg", played by John Cleese, makes the comment that “It’s symbolic of his struggle with reality”, though the final words are difficult to hear in this clip. May I ask, “Did you laugh when (or if) you heard that comment?” Though it was considered to be humorous at the time that it was made, it is taken very seriously these days. In fact, such a comment could even be interpreted as being “hate speech” these days. I sincerely doubt that promoting hate speech was the goal of this portion of the movie, but this just goes to show how times have changed in the last almost 40 years.

I believe that I have reached a certain understanding about why things like this continue to happen in this way. First, when The Life of Brian came out, it was a controversial movie. Even this small portion was considered to be very inappropriate and unreasonable to many alive at that time. However, humor can be used to ease the digestion. People are often exposed to ideas ahead of time through various forms of entertainment. Then, when the concept manifests itself in reality, people have already been exposed to it, so they have some frame of reference in which to consider and accept it.

An idea that would otherwise be completely rejected by many in a society was been made a little easier to deal with, since some exposure to the potential of that reality had already been accomplished. Basically, the seed had been planted. Additionally, it seems that the more “progressive” or “”counter-culture” ideas are first revealed in a comedic or sci-fi situation. Though they may be presented as fantasy, or even ridiculed and mocked for the sake of “entertainment”, the concept is still presented. At first, it’s just presented as something interesting, peculiar or funny.

Mankind generally has people that either want change or fear change. Some are apathetic, but many more have a desired preference. It seems that those who desire change have used this technique quite successfully for quite some time now to “help” those who would prefer “not to change” to get with the program.

Though some other examples of “predicting the future” in a movie, book, or TV show may have other explanations, exposing people to ideas and concepts before they are attempted to be implemented into society seems to be a common reason why. Whether or not this was part of why we see this sketch include bringing up these issues in this way is beyond me. I wasn’t there at the time and can only speculate.

In closing, if you’re looking to change something in the future, this may be a good way to prepare society for what you’re trying to implement or encourage its acceptance.

Also, if you’re on the other end of the spectrum, you may want to “watch” what you watch, and be careful what you laugh at…

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Stay tuned for Part 2: Getting With the Program, coming soon to a steemit near you. – Thanks, @papa-pepper

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