Louis CK's mind dissects the world with surgical precision, always searching for the interesting. And that is why he is currently the Funniest Man in the World (official title). While all comedians, or at least the good ones, probably see the world a bit askew, CK's ability to hone in on fine distinctions sets him apart. It seems that, while everyone else is busy screaming at one another, CK's mind immediately targets the specifics of what people say and how people behave. And when he relays what he sees to the world, the result is invariably eye-opening. One immediately sees the undeniable truth in what he says. It's a refreshing break from all of the endless noise that surrounds us. If you don't know what I'm talking about, here are a few examples.
Last summer, comedian Tracy Morgan came under fire for what was perceived by many as a homophobic rant. Reportedly, part of what Morgan said was that, if his son were gay, he "better talk to me like a man and not in a gay voice or I'll pull out a knife and stab that little n**ger to death." Most people were -- somewhat understandably -- horrified by this statement, and condemned Morgan accordingly.
Not CK, who had a more nuanced response. CK saw Morgan's comments as an opportunity for discussion about the meaning of masculinity. From CK's perspective, Morgan was saying: "If my son is gay, he better come to me about it like a man and not come to me [and tell me in an effeminate voice]." In that light, Morgan wasn't attacking homosexuality. Rather, he was expressing an inability to understand a man not behaving "like a man," regardless of his sexual orientation. And Morgan's idea of what it means to be a "man" is, in his view, incompatible with speaking in a stereotypically gay voice.
CK found Morgan's sentiment to be a "very different idea" and "a profoundly confusing thought." And CK felt that people in the gay community should have talked to Morgan to better understand where his idea of masculinity stems from. That "could have been a starting point of a conversation that might have actually made a difference in the way people feel about homophobia." To savage Morgan and fail to appreciate the nuance of his statement was a lost opportunity for growth. Those on the attack, unlike CK, did not see the interesting.
This past June, CK expressed a similar appreciation for the interesting on Bill Simmons' podcast, the BS Report. CK revealed that he is a huge sports fan, but he doesn't consume sports in the manner as most of us. CK, again, looks for the interesting. CK is a huge Manny Pacqiao fan, but he wasn't angry about the judges robbing Pacqiao of a victory over Timothy Bradley. Rather, CK was excited, because this story is more interesting than Pacqiao simply winning another fight. Now, questions arise. What happened? How will Pacquiao respond? What will happen in the rematch? CK's fighter lost, but the story is now so much better.
Similarly, CK is a New England Patriots fan. But when the Patriots were 18-0 and heavily favored heading into Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants, CK found himself rooting for the Giants. Why? Because it's more interesting to see the juggernaut lose. The Patriots completing an undefeated it was, at the time, what was supposed to happen. It was expected. For all of CK's teams (he mentioned the Bruins as well), he likes to see how they react when they lose. Losing on the biggest stage, with all the media hype surrounding the undefeated season, would potentially reveal a great deal about the character of the Patriots players and coaches. Now, maybe you say he isn't a real fan, and you might be right. But that isn't the point. For CK, sports isn't just about seeing his teams win or lose. He wants to see what the results of the competition reveal about the people who compete. CK, it seems, is all about people.
Most recently, Daniel Tosh got into some trouble for an altercation with a patron at a comedy club over some jokes dealing with rape. Many feminists viciously condemned Tosh, and many comedians forcefully defended him. CK did neither. After addressing what turned out to be misunderstood as joining the chorus of comedians defending Tosh, CK gave his thoughts on the issue. In doing so, CK did not attack or defend Tosh. Rather, he attacked the noise itself. He noted that this was a fight between comedians and bloggers, who produce a large volume of "hyperbole and garbage." Further, as CK says it, comedians "can't take criticism," and feminists "can't take a joke." To CK, though, "all dialogue is positive." The person on the other side of a debate may open your eyes to things you did not know or understand. They may not change your view, but they will give you a more expansive view of the world around you. That's how you grow as a person.
CK's work is consistently fantastic. His stand-up and his critically-acclaimed FX show are hilarious, challenging, and thought-provoking. When you hear CK give his thoughts on the world around him, you can understand why. Rather than give in to the noise and knee jerk reactions, CK zeroes in on the most interesting and important elements of human interaction. Let's hope he keeps it up, because as of now, it's inspiring some of the most wonderful art in the world today.
