Oral Traditions and The Colloquial Man

Oral communication and presentation constitute an immensely large portion of human existence, as well as academic endeavor. However, I feel scholars, and people in general, spend little time analyzing the way humans speak, or appreciating the art of storytelling, which, after all, catalyzed the formation and practice of the written word. Harry Smith, similar to Professor Higgins, could tell what county of the United States a man or woman originated after hearing them sing but a few bars of music. The oral tradition is so vital to our way of life, yet so depreciated. The progression and proliferation of technology has helped to alienate people from actually speaking on a day to day basis. So, I would like to spend some time honoring a person whom I feel embodies this slowly dying art form: Louis CK. In my opinion, Louis CK represents the perfect communion of the spoken and written language. I'm sure many would disagree with this statement, considering the high volume of profanity Louis CK uses in his routines, however, he is one of the few comedians who really considers the role of linguistics in everyday life, and the impact our lack of verbal skills has on the quality of society as a whole.



Louis CK even expands on the definitions and placement of specific diction within our culture. By writing out vulgar language and expanding upon the connotations of certain words, he attempts to understand and define these words with rationality, as opposed to placing common vocabulary among the taboo. In addition, Louis frequently says these words during his performances and in public, thus confronting the idea that a word in and of itself can be abusive, and removing these words from a context of fear and obscenity. I believe Louis CK would be a strong advocate of Cervantes' words, “The pen is the tongue of the mind." The idea that we all must own up to the words we use, hone our narrative skills, and portray an image with the honesty of a newly conceived thought, would certainly resonate with his bizarre sense of integrity.



Considering Louis has been in stand-up since he was nineteen, avid listeners can see his progression as an artist. More importantly his body of work materializes Joan Didion's thoughts on writing; she once wrote,“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” Louis hasn't always possessed this sense of aestheticism and sincerity. As a younger, less enlightened man, he felt that he could get by with a hollow Vaudeville-style act. As the years went by, he got married and had children, faced economic difficulties, and the same domestic troubles that nearly every family faces. He could no longer relate the product he was selling, the product being himself. He felt that the man on stage did not reflect the man in the mirror. So he changed his style and content to match how he felt. This emotional element makes his work viable. By using a frame of reference, recognizable to every dysfunctional family on the face of the earth, he was not only able to create a satisfactory profession on a personal level, but connect with the audience in a profoundly cathartic way. If the laughing in the background were to be cut from the audio of his work, and another man were to read his material dry, the effect would be tragic. Fortunately, Louis doesn't intend to make people cry or feel sympathetic toward him, but rather, allows the audience to relate to and laugh with him over the traumatic experiences in their own life. The audience doesn't simply laugh at a bunch of inane babble, but rather can identify with the experiences and observations Louis has on a daily basis. Brutally honest, brave, unashamed, candid, and at the same time therapeutic, Louis provides a service unmatched in the literary and performing world.

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Unafraid and unhindered by the prospect of judgment and persecution, Louis uses comedy and the art of oral communication to invite opportunities for analysis and objective, critical thinking. Whether it's an existential examination of modern society, an exposé on the perversity of mankind, or just a wildly embarrassing confession, Louis, in some cases, uses the stage as a soapbox or pulpit. This enhances the thematic quality of his work above mere entertainment. Whether deliberately didactic, Louis' work always manages to inspire empathy, tolerance, inquiry, and greater comprehension of this complex world, along with a few liberating laughs. Louis CK, quite frankly, epitomizes the words of T.S. Eliot “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”