A schema by which I view any gathering of individuals is the level of formality. The higher the formality, the more intensity placed on actions that are taken. In a formal setting, details are allowed to shine.
Compare this with low formality, in which the benefit is freedom. You can do anything you wish without scrutiny. When you’ve been in a high formality setting for a long duration, and you enter into a low formality one, you feel like you can finally breathe.
Each of these settings have benefit. It seems to me, as an American, we have gluttoned over the latter without giving the former its dues. Absolute freedom to be who we are, without judgement. Never, ever judge or scrutinize. That way, we can all act like animals, the most “us” that we can be.
And this gives way to underlying philosophies that I find misinformed at best. That is, that we are animals.
No evidence shows me that we are animals.
So let’s not act like animals. Or, if we do, let’s not forget that we are also heavenly creatures. Let’s build heaven on earth, I suppose, is what I’m saying. Not the Tower of Babel, perhaps… But at least we can taste it, can’t we?
…
Regardless. I was watching at a symphony the other day. I’ve been starved for this heavenly formality, and this was my alleviation. In this viewing, I saw the wonderful effects of deep formality.
A trumpet player was emphasized for the song. He was the “personality” of the song. He made several small movements of disinterest, very minor but very comical. It consistently received laughter. In a less formal setting, no one would have noticed these small movements. They would have been drowned out. And yet, they were truly funny.
So much of humor lies in pushing the edge of what’s appropriate and what isn’t. The problem is, when the line is pushed too far and nothing is considered inappropriate, there is no humor. But we desire humor, and edginess in general.
So what do you do? Humor consistently pushes the line, so naturally less and less will be considered inappropriate.
To me, it seems a requirement of culture to dance between these states — formal and informal. Staying in one too long diminishes the effect of either.
Societal decline, etc. etc.