We are strange creatures

As humans, we have a natural inclination to protect ourselves. Ways to do this include eating, sleeping and reproducing. The “reptile brain” (as my former contemporary literature professor called it) causes us to do weird things in order to keep our morale and sense of achievement up. Aside from necessary actions like eating and sleeping, people often look to others to help validate their existence and keep their spirits high. The thing is, though, that many people don’t look to others when a good thing happens. For example, while it is inspiring to witness someone winning an award or get honored in some way, it’s safe to say many people feel more compelled to watch someone trip, fall down, or get punched in the face. We get joy out of someone else’s pain because we’re thrilled it’s not happening to us. No one wants to be physically or emotionally hurt (unless you’re into that kind of stuff…) so when we see someone else suffering, our reptilian instincts kick. We appreciate that someone else is on the receiving end of some kind of uncoordinated act.
In Woody Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam,” much of Allen’s character is built around his utter lack of bodily control. He knocks over most of the objects he comes into contact with, as exemplified in the blow dryer scene. It seems that most of our section hasn’t had much experience with Woody Allen films, and that the most vocal responses elicited when watching were in response to the physical comedy. Watching Allen as he knocked all of the pills out of his medicine cabinet, attempted to take hold of the uncontrollable blow dryer and “nonchalantly” tossed a record out of its sleeve hooked us in as an audience because our confidence was boosted through his incoordination and awkwardness.
This idea that we get pleasure out of other people’s pain reminded me of Adam Sandler’s 1999 film “Big Daddy.” In multiple scenes, Sandler’s character throws himself into the line of physical pain to make the child he is watching happy. Children are portrayed as “innocents,” which leads me to believe that is a commentary on the true nature of the human mind. Julian, as portrayed by Dylan and Cole Sprouse, can only be cheered up when he sees Sandler get hit by a car, or ailed in some other way. Our reptile brain forces us to do the things necessary to keep us thriving and alive. Sometimes this extends past eating, sleeping and procreating – and extends into the realm of watching someone getting a stick thrown in their path.