In Moran’s Interdisciplinarity: The New Critical Idiom, it is stated that as time goes on, the disciplines have become both more numerous and more isolated. Nietzsche and Ortega indicate that “this development was not simply an organic consequence of advances in knowledge, but was also the product of institutional and societal factors, particularly the demand for specialists in a complex and technologically sophisticated society” (Moran, Joe [2010-02-25]. Interdisciplinarity: The New Critical Idiom [p. 12]. Taylor and Francis. Kindle Edition.). The result, Moran states, is that many disciplines are now completely unable to communicate with each other; it is as if they are speaking different languages. There is one language, however, that is universal: the language of absurdity.
Absurdity is a language that everyone understands, as its recognition is an innate part of being human. While cultural norms vary dramatically around the world, the observation of the violation of said norms tends to be unifying experience. Charlie Todd, the creator of “Improv Everywhere,” capitalizes on the enjoyment we get from viewing something ridiculous. According to their website, “Improv Everywhere is a New York City-based prank collective that causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places.” From a no-pants subway ride involving thousands of people to a sudden bout of ballroom dancing on a random NYC crosswalk, the scenes they create are as well-executed as they are ridiculous. Of the more than 100 “missions” they have completed so far, only one pattern is clear: the observers, once they realized that everyone else is as confused as they are, find it hilarious.
Some of their detractors argue that the participants in Improv Everywhere have “too much time on their hands.” Todd’s response? The participants have the same amount of leisure time as any other New Yorker; they just choose to spend it in an unusual way. I believe what they are doing is incredibly important. It is all too easy to become accustomed to the routines and parameters of daily life and not find any opportunities to laugh or to interact with strangers.
In fact, this interaction can actually have tangible effects. In his article “The Hidden Benefits of Talking to Strangers,” Lifehacker blogger Thorin Klosowski discusses a study published by the University of Michigan which found a correlation between talking to one’s neighbors and good mental and physical health. He goes on to mention a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology which found that people tend to have a much more pleasant commute when they talk to strangers. The New York Times hypothesized that this is the result of a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy; when we talk to strangers, we make a stronger effort to appear positive than when we talk to people we know well. This amiability, even when artificial, can have a positive effect on one’s mood (Klosowski, Thorin. “The Hidden Benefits of Talking to Strangers.” Lifehacker. N.p., 20 Aug. 2014. Web.).
Charlie Todd ends a presentation he gave at TEDxBloomington with the following quote: “As kids we’re taught to play, and we’re never given a reason why we should play, it’s just accepted that play is a good thing. I think that’s sort of the point of Improv Everywhere, that there is no point…As adults we need to learn that there’s no wrong way to play.” (Todd, Charlie. “The Shared Experience of Absurdity.” TED. TEDxBloomington, May 2011. Web.)
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