CAMPUS TIMES February 28, 1972 Page 5 `Berg's-Eye View' Dave Berg 'Beneath the Comic Mask' By Mark N. Grant The other cartoonists in the most forms of wit and humor are A great moment. The legendary school of pop psychiatry comic consciously or unconsciously de- Roger Kaputnik had just brushed strip - Feiffer, Charles Schulz, rived from hostility. How many by me, gangwaying through a even Garry Trudeau - all stylize times have you made a devasta- jammed-to-the-aisles Hoyt Hall. their drawings. Berg's thing is ting remark to a friend and then But wait-no, it wasn't Roger Kap- in a sense tougher to do, because said, 'I was only kidding'? Most utnik. This dude lacked the square he has to graft those Feifferian humor is based on discomfiture jaw and the look of arch middle- insights onto near - photographic and the unpleasant situation of class schmuckery. He stepped on- replicas in his artwork. He him- another person. You see some- stage, drew up a stool, unbuttoned self hit on this in his talk: "Nov- body slip on a banana peel and his shirt to mid-chest, and there- elists tell me that the kind of you laugh-why? It didn't happen by dashed my preconceptions. writing I do is the hardest in the to you, it happened to him." To It was Dave Berg, all right, world because you have to make hear how funny Berg made these announced the Outside Speakers' a point and still be funny." Where remarks sound, you had to be representative, and right away does he get that endless supply there. came thunderous cheers and of topics for the Lighter Side? He repeatedly alluded to the mock (?) hisses, tokens of the "I steal them. When you steal from pain beneath the comic mask. kibitzing between speaker and one book, it's plagiarism; when "Dirty jokes are based on fear- audience that characterized the you steal from many, it's re- people do not joke about things evening. Dave Berg, the cartoon- search." (Big ovation). that make them happy-they joke ist whose "L ighter Side" has grown Berg took to the platform with about things that frighten and dis- to be one of the three institutions a swaggering, Rabelaisian spon- turb them." Best example of all, you the same Dave Berg that vacuity that gave Zero Mostel without which MAD magazine would taneity. He backed his way into from a proud Jew: "It has been draws for MAD magazine," says his name. be unthinkable (the other two clear- a drawing demonstration saying, said that Jewish humor is the the kid. "That's me, young man," It's obvious that we have several ly are Alfred E. Neuman and Don "Didn't you have anything better best in the world, which makes replies Roger Kaputnik, and the different cultures, subcultures of Martin). MAD magazine is that to do than watch me, why don't it the worst because it comes same exchange is paraphrased for time periods (the '30's, the '60's) mutant chapter in American cul- you go out and spread VD or from trouble. So don't be proud several boxes in true Lighter-Side caught in the bind of co-eval tural history, one of the few char- something?" There was nothing of it." format. Finally, the punchline: kid existence. I don't mean to expand goes, "Boy, are you an asshole!" this to Charles Reich proportions, Boy, are you assholes, National but how else do you explain why Lampoon. You really piss me off. the Art History 107 students You were whelped on MAD's knee, laughed at the mere credit yet all you are capable of now is sequences of a silent film last to give the finger to a false image semester, driving curator James of Dave Berg. The thing is, there Card to growl, "What's so damn was no comic statement behind funny about that?" Is drugs the your calling him an asshole (Berg: only earmark of our own time- "They didn't have me do anything subculture's comedy? Why do so asshol ish"). MAD has point of view; many of us feel we have to blow so does Esquire, another gen- dope in order to get the, most out uinely amusing magazine. Painting of, not just "Yellow Submarine", a mustache on the Mona Lisa is but Mickey Mouse? Firesign's a brainless act that may at best comedy-through-word-overload is elicit a momentary heh-heh. Be- just as grass-inspired (or -in- sides, there's nothing new about duced) as the Nicholson-Hopper armpit humor. Read Eric Part-- pot scene about the planet Venus ridge's "Shakespeare's Bawdy", in "Easy Rider". and he'll point out the difference I submit that all it really boils between the amusing scatological down to is the distinction between and the sniggeringly anal. In deal- humor that is art and humor that ing with profanity the Bard always is not. At the lecture, in response to a question about the chose the former way; the Lampoon Lampoon, thinks that the shortest distance Berg said, "With them, they have two rules: if it's unfunny, put it between two points is reached by the latter. in; if it's in bad taste, put it in." I'm not sure that this isn't all Maybe we really are witnessing there is to the difference, cul- something new. Previously it was ture lag or no. Berg also related always thought that there had to be the notorious tale of how a dis- a point of view behind humor. But guised Lampoon reporter ripped you can't speak of wit and comic off files from MAD. Really fine, sensibility in the same breath with gang. If you can't beat 'em, cheat Phi Zappa Krappa". To infer that 'em. CT Photo by Terry Atlas Zappa's humor has a self-con- "I laugh at myself in MAD scious point of view behind it is mrazine. The Lampoon came out particularly paternal about him, ter members of modern pop cul- From remarks like these it just as misleading as simplistic- and continued the exact samething I ittle that suggested a New Rochelle ture (MAD started back in the became obvious that Berg doesn't ally to misconstrue Dave Berg, in I was doing. They were laughing commuter or any other character '50's, remember?) that have sur- believe in sugar-coating anything. print or in person, as a wishy- at me laughing at me." Imitation vived intact through the whirl- you might see in his drawings, So how can you call him a wishy- washy liberal fink. I'm told that is the highest form of flattery, and as far as the generation gap washy liberal fink? Would a wishy- winds of change. the film "200 Motels" is a totally except when you throw in dirty goes, he didn't make you con- We had been informed by silk- washy liberal fink say this: "The inane put-on, even for Mothers words for no conceivable purpose. scious of any. He appeared hip screen posters that, at 8:30 on this generation gap has a bridge. It's freaks. It may be this kind of Then it's just cheap imitation. Thursday evening, the lecture to everything, as so many guest- cal led hypocrisy It's on both sides. "Dave Berg Looks at OUr Sick lecturers these days so conspic- The f-,iner makes a large fortune World" would be given at Hoyt uously do. This chameleon-like while his son is making a small Hall. But Mr. Berg, admitting hipness leads one to wonder where fortune selling drugs to other that he was tired and unprepared he's really at-hence, the National kids." The National Lampoon in to give an organized lecture, Lampoon's label! ing him as "wish- the October 1971 issue did an turned in more of a stand-up y-washy liberal fink" (more on parody on MAD. Some of it was night-club performance, winging that later). very clever and funny, in keepina it with jokes and one-liners mixed One could argue that the super- - with the Lampoon's usual .200 in with some of the ideas he's panavision of "Berg's-Eye View" batting average, but much else, been kicking around (his opening sees through the multifocals of notably the Bergshit (ha-ha?) remark was "I hurt my foot kick- opportunism, like Nixon's opinion- section, was more typical of this ing around some ideas" - his foot poll convictions. But Mr. Berg's sophomoric, snot-nosed ragsheet. was hurt, and that's why he sat real-life personality, as well as on the stool). The resulting mix- his remarks about humor, made A little analysis is in'order. The ture did not always come off, and it very clear where he's at, dis- Lampoon is a child of the "new whenever a joke fell flat, Mr. pelling the notion that he might wave" of humor brought on by the Berg would tend to overdo his actually be Roger Kaputnik. He youth-drug-rock culture of the last "Aaagh, ya rotten kids" bit. But impressed me as just a plain five years. The main standard- there was still plenty of meat in honest man; he doesn't scruple to bearers of the movement have that scraggly delivery, something be honest, he just is honest, and been such people as Frank Zappa, almost Lenny Bruce-like in its he seems remarkably free of the R. Crumb and Zap Comix, lately pithy head-rambling. inner vendettas that taint other the Firesign Theater, and even I have always dug "Berg's- humorists' material. the Chicago Seven. When Abbie Eye View" tremendously. Some "What I try to do is say you Hoffman named his kid america ten or more years ago when the all stink and I'm no better. Be- and Grace Slick named hers god, feature started, its artwork and hind that liberal phoniness, we're we arrived not at black comedy, writing were primitive compared all a bunch of bigots, and we not at 'theater of the absurd, but with its present artwork and writ- won't admit it. I do," Berg said at the comedy of giving the finger, ing, but even then it was immensely beligerently, adding that this is the laughter of I-don't-give-a-shit. appealing. Evolving as he went the reason why "All in the Fam- We all know this; we all know along, as all good artists do, Berg ily" is so popular on TV. After that the avowed aim of Zap Comix honed his perceptions to a keener a graphic demonstration of how is to gross you out, period. edge, until the characters he drew optical illusions work in the cre- There's a sequence in the Lam- and the things they said had an ative act, he said that "humor is poon's take-off on Berg that has incredibly real-life particularity the greatest of illusions; it gives a delivery boy bringing a package CT Photo by Terry Atlas to them. the illusion of gaiety. Freud said to Dave Berg's door. "Say, aren't 14 A M P S ES bOi.-(A715 THAT Serring ah. 14oirre,iiy Roriwter Compaanily Sixr< 187,2 PeAkrifUt-F Fot)062 Published by the students of the University of Rochester 5906 River Stiv.tion ilkoche.ster, New York 14627 PHONE (716) 275-6907

Page Marti 72 State of the Press

It is by now a well known fact that the Approp- riations Committee plans 10 crack down on funding 'THATi 113 for A of 1pulblicatiolns. In the past week s Forum and Black F1,0106R,T5 A ttlEle0 Press have witnessed this new hard line. ,A00. 1115 UOI,rtti! Clearly, those who support a firm ceiling for funding of pOblications are correct in stating that some of the existing publications can function ,un- der tighter budgets, But one must ask Whether this concept does justice to services rendered or whether it is a case of misplaced priorities, While it is true that any view we can offer here is biased, we wish to point out that services which publica- tions render are both considerable in comparison with other activities at this university, and essential to the intellectual and cultural environment of the

community. • It i s surprising that some students at the UR actually feel that publications Should be watched more ,closely. indeed, this is one university which gives only token support to many of its publica- tions, A more admirable solution involves effective and realistic distribution of funds to support those The ivy vs. The Dandelions organizations which have the greatest impact on the campus community. To the Editor: If there is anything we can learn from the recent when I tell you this but not everyone here I'S an dispute between the Appropriations Committee and I'm getting sick of hearing and reading about the Ivy League reject. Some eeopie elected to go here Forum it is this: the Appropriations Committee is inferiority of Rochester reiati,e to the Ivy League and aothers i(gasp) act:Jelly turned down one or more god schools. I'm especially getting sick of having of the sacred schools. it may be hard to imagine entitled to regulate the financial state of campus the student body here referred to as mere Ivy why a person would do swah a ahiric now that we've publications, but publications should not be forced League rejects and Iheving to blush an shame over been here for more than one semester...but I have to operate under the fear of economic reprisal. such a thing, (Re: Dammit, You Get Rochester on a feeling that there comes a time in every person's Let us not fall to the ego trip that student govern- the Map, February 25.1 life when he just can't remember why he has done ments and publications can potentially become; let First of ail, think back to the reasons why some- us rather work together for something which will one may not get into an Ivy League school, Remember There are a few reasons which come to mind, though: the lack of many-times phoney tradition better serve the community we represent. high school grades, the SAT's, the why-I-want-to- go-to-Yale essays that were the requirements for which chokes other schools, the lack of a rah-rah entry? Universally denounced as insufficient criteria "look at us" atmosphere, the potential for seeing for judging a person's worth, when they work to judge and participating in real research before grad a person's unworth, we all accept their verdicts school, the campus, the kids. Rochester has things uncritically and completely. to offer. Maybe we just have to (look a little harder So, What's the Story? to find them instead of merely being able to read But let's suppose that a person does fulfill all them off in the UR catalogue. One week has passed since the conclusion of the the "requirements" for entry. Did you know that a Why are we here? Is it just for status? Should student can be rejected if he doesn't cross his University Affairs calendar drive, and Chancellor it really and truly pain you when people think t's and dot his i's? Or if his essays are not typed? Rochester is a state school? And is the 5000-dollar Wallis is now in possession of some 800 letters Or if the person reading the application - is in a tuition the only way you can convince them that addressed to him by the student body. Gregory bad mood? Or if the application gets lost of mi s - it isn't? So maybe here we don't all have the urge Staple, chairman of the University Affairs Committee, filed altogether? After a while, it's hard to tell to paste Rochester stickers on our cars or keep and other students who voiced their opinions are the talent from the luck that works to determine pencils in a Rochester beer mug. Somehow, I think entry. it's much better that way. anxiously awaiting some reply from the administra- There's also another consideration-Don't faint Leslie Schwartz tion. As of this moment, none has been received. The attention given to this issue assures us that students are willing to put effort into anything which will guarantee their part in the decision-making process. For this participation to occur, the adminis- tration must make public certain pieces of informa- tion, including relative feasibi I ities, costs, and support Zappa Is His Own Man for the respective calendar proposals, It is abso- lutely essential that this information be disseminated to members of the university community. It is equally To the Editor: In answer to the question asked at the end of the Mark N. Grant=s editorial on Dave Berg contained "live" version of "Call Any Vegetable", "What can essential that members of the community take part several unfounded references to Frank Zappa. Mr. a person like myself say to a vegetable like you?", in the decision. Grant calls Zappa one of the "standard-bearers" Zappa often monotones, "Duh, I have a picture of The Campus Times urges Chancellor Wallis to of the "new wave of humor brought on by the youth- you sitting on the toilet on my bedroom wall." drug-rock culture." From this statement we would make public the desired information. We, as students Lastly, Mr. Grant advises us that to "infer that assume that Zappa is in agreement with this youth- at this university, demand the right to take part Zappa's humor", (I must admit that I was entirely etc., culture. This is about as far from the truth unaware of Zappa's fame as a humorist - all these it in decisions which affect us. as one can get. years I thought he was a musician), "has a self- On an album released in 1967, the name of which, conscious point of view behind it" is absurd. In "We're Only In It For the Money", clearly states fact Mr. Grant "is told" that "the film '200-Motels' Zappa's relationship to this etc.-etc. culture, Zappa Jeffrey Newcorn is a totally inane put-on, even for Mother's freaks." included a song called "Flower Punk". This song, in To say that this movie has no point and is marked Editor-in-Chief all of Zappa's sarcastic glory, puts down the "trippy by a lack of ideas is, again, a rash statement, hippie" movement. One of the lines from the song, Robert Safran especially when made'by one who has never actually "I'm really just a phony but forgive me 'cause I'm Business Manager seen the movie. The movie is a musical and visual stoned", serves also as an adequate statement of description of the nightmare encountered by rock Maria Rabar, Terry Atlas Zappa's view of drug abuse. musicians while touring: bad food, bad hotels, Secondly, Mr. Grant informs us that "you can't Managing Editors having to take part in "the horse race to cure speak of wit and comic sensibility in the same breath horniness", and having to repeatedly ask the question with 'Phi Zappa Krappa' "• This is, for those who "When are we going to get paid for this?" are unfamiliar with it, a reference to a poster now The ed -in-chief is responsible for ell editcriols• being sold, which pictures Mr. Zappa sitting on the The feeling that I got after reading Mr. Grant's - - The CAMPUS TIMES, the student newspaper of the University o f Rochester, toilet. If this had been approved of by Zappa, I would editorial is that he knows close to nothing about Is published three times per week during the school year except the weeks have to agree with Mr. Grant; but it wasn't. Zappa Frank Zappa and this being the case, he should before, during and after vocation end evam periods. Third class postage paid himself, in live appearances and in interviews, is have picked on someone else. Zappa's image is bad at Rochester, New Yoik 14604. The subscription rate for 72 issu®s is $10.00. enough, and does not need help from Mr. Grant. Address all inquires to: CAMPUS TIMES, 5008 River Station, Rochester, wont to make fun of the sickness of those people, New York 1 4627. in search of a "quick buck", who released this poster. Jeff Putterman