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Stoogeology: Essays on the Three Stooges
In the world of slapstick comedy, few are more beloved than the Three Stooges. Throughout their 190 short films, they consistently delivered physical, verbal and situational comedy in new and creative ways. Following the trio from outer space to ancient Rome, this volume provides an in-depth look at their comedy and its impact on twentieth century art, culture and thought. This analysis reveals new insights into the language, literary structure, politics, race, gender, ethnicity and even psychology of the classic shorts. It discusses the elements of surrealism within the Stooges films, exploring the many ways in which they created their own reality regardless of time and space. The portrayal of women and minorities and the role of the mistake in Stooges' works are also addressed.
280 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
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September 1, 2023
The only book ever whose bibliography includes both "Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha" by E.A. Burtt and Morris Feinberg's "Larry, the Stooge in the Middle." The only one I've read, at any rate.
It also includes the observation that "[T]he famous 'Curly Shuffle' typifies Curly's retreat from difficult situations where he cannot get what he wants. Clearly then, the personality cannot function with the id alone: the ego must evolve to satisfy the powerful id." Freudians will also wish to note two contributors' disagreement on whether Moe and Larry represent the ego and the superego, respectively, or vice versa.
I don't usually read film-studies stuff. Is this just what the field produces, or is it the particular lineup of scholars here? The best piece, combining knowledge of the Stooges' work with actual original research - a look at scripted scenes that never made it to the finished product, courtesy of Jules White's papers - isn't by an academic at all, but by an executive of a company making pharmaceutical chemicals who pursued his research as a hobby.
Quite a few of the articles review, and even quantify, the films' unflattering portrayals of various racial and religious groups, not to mention women. In particular, the Columbia shorts department's treatment of African Americans, as characters and performers, is enough to make Blacks seethe and whites cringe. But what you won't learn, unless you've read Michael Price's bio "Mantan the Funnyman" or seen the factoid elsewhere, is that Shemp, who had worked with Black comedian Mantan Moreland, suggested recruiting him as a Stooge in the event of a vacancy - and that after Shemp's death, Moe asked that Columbia do just that. It might have rocked the movie business, and maybe a big swath of the country, if it had come to pass. "Stoogeology" is interesting in spots, but I wouldn't make it my standard reference.
It also includes the observation that "[T]he famous 'Curly Shuffle' typifies Curly's retreat from difficult situations where he cannot get what he wants. Clearly then, the personality cannot function with the id alone: the ego must evolve to satisfy the powerful id." Freudians will also wish to note two contributors' disagreement on whether Moe and Larry represent the ego and the superego, respectively, or vice versa.
I don't usually read film-studies stuff. Is this just what the field produces, or is it the particular lineup of scholars here? The best piece, combining knowledge of the Stooges' work with actual original research - a look at scripted scenes that never made it to the finished product, courtesy of Jules White's papers - isn't by an academic at all, but by an executive of a company making pharmaceutical chemicals who pursued his research as a hobby.
Quite a few of the articles review, and even quantify, the films' unflattering portrayals of various racial and religious groups, not to mention women. In particular, the Columbia shorts department's treatment of African Americans, as characters and performers, is enough to make Blacks seethe and whites cringe. But what you won't learn, unless you've read Michael Price's bio "Mantan the Funnyman" or seen the factoid elsewhere, is that Shemp, who had worked with Black comedian Mantan Moreland, suggested recruiting him as a Stooge in the event of a vacancy - and that after Shemp's death, Moe asked that Columbia do just that. It might have rocked the movie business, and maybe a big swath of the country, if it had come to pass. "Stoogeology" is interesting in spots, but I wouldn't make it my standard reference.
Displaying 1 of 1 review