Conchords, as seen through nerd lenses

As a nerd, my favorite hobby is taking things apart and reconstructing them. My favorite Flight of the Conchords essays tend to involve some element of that. So I'd like to devote this thread to Conchordian analysis.


*watching as all of the people who actually had sex in high school run screaming from this thread*

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The Flight of the Conchords and splicing culture

Flight of the Conchords would persuade us of its artlessness but there are several comedic subroutines spinning furiously within. I counted no fewer than 9 of them. (Aren't anthropologists tedious? Always decoding culture, always overthinking things.)

1) the "
second look"
subtlety I talked about yesterday. As Flynn points out, the song lyrics demand careful attention and repetition.

2) broad humor, as when Bret glues Jemaine's Kodak and cell phone together to make him a "
camera phone."
Or the robot video in which the boys dress up in aluminium foil and mechanical movements.

3) self mockery, as when Jemaine announces to the girl who is just about to dump him, "
I'm usually more charismatic than this."


4) a passionate investigation of the bureaucratic sensibility, as evidenced by Murray (Rhys Darby) and his band meetings, roll calls and agendas. Anyone touched by the British Commonwealth likes this sort of thing, perhaps because the founding culture, England, managed to produce both a formidable love of bureaucracy and its anarchic opposite. In this view, Flight is to New Zealand what Monty Python was to Britain and Kids in the Hall were to Canada.

5) an affectionate investigation of the fan sensibility. The band's fan Mel (Kristen Schaal) stalks the Conchords with insinuating questions that disclose a condition of imminent sexual ecstasy. In Schall's best moment, she puts her nose to Clement's shirt and inhales deeply.

6) Clement and McKenzie have a fine anthropological eye, and in the manner of Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, they examine "
nothing"
carefully for its comedic opportunity.

7) an idiotic innocence, which Alessandra Stanley captures nicely. The boys can't quite decide what put off the woman Jemaine went out with. The viewer knows perfect well that it's because Bret interrupted them as they were about to kiss, but the boys can't help wondering whether perhaps Jermaine failed to walk "
on the outside of her."
The boys appreciate that this mysterious ritual is an absolute deal breaker with it comes to soliciting kisses.

dissonance, as when Clement takes on child labor in one of his "
message songs,"
only to spin off into a reflection on why sneakers aren't cheaper, the suspicion that we pay too much for sneakers, before being thrown free of the song with a plaintive cry: "
what's your overhead?"
This is anthropological trickery of another kind. Normally, the folk song and business analysis are things kept secret. Clement binds them up.

9) splicing. This isn't something I've noticed before, and it's not something I've seen talked about. Let me have a go and leave it to my readers to sort things out. By splicing I mean exactly what Wikipedia means by the term: joining two pieces of rope or cable by weaving the strands of each into the other"
except in this case what gets joined are not bits of rope but culture. There is lots of splicing in Flight.


First order splicing

There's the cheap kind, the kind I associate most with Larry David, as when some stray detail of the plot turns out to be critical to its outcome. In episode 3 of Flight, a monkey serves this purpose.


Second order splicing

There's something more complicated as when Brett determines that to square things with Jemaine, he must recover the camera phone they lost in a mugging. The mugger returns not just the camera phone, but also the pictures he took with it. These include pictures of him because, well, he had to "
finish out the roll."
There's actually a picture of the mugger ripping off a convenience store.

It's good comedy and it works because it represents the intersection of people who should never see one another again, and objects that are themselves the outcome of a preposterous kind of splicing, which devices, it turns out, capture photos that should never have been taken. Both the camera and the photos end up exchanged by people who should be enemies in the creation of a social moment that should never have happened. Sure enough and the boys all become friends. This is splicing to make the head spin.


Third order splicing

And there are moments of highest order splicing. The boys go to a party and Jemaine spots the girl of his dreams and breaks into song, exclaiming that she is so beautiful she could be a "
part time model"
or "
high class prostitute."
While Jemaine sings, we understand that we are now in "
song time."
More specifically, we understand that we have entered another dramatic dimension that is rooted in "
drama time"
but a departure from it. (This conviction is well established in our culture and musical theatre depends upon it.) But no sooner have we got our bearings than Jermaine walks up to the party host in "
drama time"
and still singing asks him a question. Yikes. Drama time and song time are suddenly one. They are now spliced.

Now, it's not impossible to imagine why we might be charmed by splicing. We live in a culture that is busting out in all directions. We attempt to manage selves that are themselves disparate and various. There is something deeply reassuring about a comedy that puts the world back together again.

source:

Going analog with Flight of the Conchords

Fotc_letterman Although I live in Japan, the ubiquity of media including the internet(s) and 200-channel cable TV etc. means that I'm able to be fully immersed in Japanese culture but still stay in tune to what's happening back in North America and around the world. Yet, some things still get past me. Flight of the Conchords is one of those things. I never heard of them until my friend Deryn, an expatriate from Christchurch, said he thought I'd like this talented duo from Wellington (New Zealand) since I often talk about how ordinary professionals can learn much about presentation from great comedians, musicians, and other stage performers. He was right — I get a huge kick out of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, the young pair who make up Flight of the Conchords. I'm not sure how to describe what they do: Their act is sort of like a Kiwi mix of Seinfeld meets the Smothers Brothers if they were folk/hip-hop musicians... Actually, they defy description, but they are simply brilliant without fancifulness, pretense or gimmickery. In their own words, Flight of the Conchords bill themselves as "
Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo a-capella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo."
They have had great success over the past few years especially;
their TV show in the States has been picked up for a 2nd year on HBO. But it is their simple, live, analog performances that I find so compelling and fresh. These two guys have stumbled on to something special;
it's raw and real and quite odd (but odd in a good way—we need more "
odd"
and more "
weird"
). They are a delight.


Going analog and the art of storytelling
Humor is an odd duck, so you may not find them funny or remakable at all, but millions of people around the world do, including me. In the clips below what stands out is their naturalness, their self-deprecating nature, their body language, and their ability to simply and without complication make a connection with their audience as they paint pictures with their lyrics and subtle humor and use their guitars and wit to make visceral connections.


A story about a simple conversation
People are attracted to story. Watch Jemaine and Bret below keep an audience engaged and following their words even when it's a story "
about nothing"
at all really.

[flash=350,287:nrfsfrxy]https://www.youtube.com/v/mlYkIJVguCU&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:nrfsfrxy]


Biz time
Business Time below was made into a slicker music video, but this simple analog version is better. The facial expressions are priceless and go along way toward amplifying the message. It's also a good example of why sometimes visuals are not needed — going completely naked sans slides forces you to use just your words, your nonverbal language, and in this case the music. In a sense, then, *they* are the visuals. To me at least, this duo live is one of the best things I've seen on stage in a long time. It's no wonder they are having such success;
it's well deserved.

[flash=350,287:nrfsfrxy]https://www.youtube.com/v/WGOohBytKTU&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:nrfsfrxy]


Talkin' about the issues
OK, this one below is a bit weird and perhaps not "
politically correct"
for some folks, but if you liked the first two clips (and were not offended) you may find this song enjoyable as well. The absurdity of the lyrics are an evocative juxtaposition to the light, upbeat pop riff underlying their words. I just love the simplicity and subtlety of their off-beat and slightly awkward humor and I envy their ability to connect with a live audience.

[flash=350,287:nrfsfrxy]https://www.youtube.com/v/EmLHOGT0v4c&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:nrfsfrxy]

source:

nikki...this was not YOU writing all of this stuff!? MAN..i just realized that right now when i saw that source links...ok...reading more because I want to say stuff too

Ok. . .a very very stupid questio guaranteed to make everyone throw their arms up and shout "
YOU UTTER TWIT!"


Um, I never understood what Jemaine meant by the line "
What's your overhead?"
What the hell does that mean?? WHAAAAAT???

Nikki, I love this topic. *pushes up pretend glasses*

chloe wrote:Ok. . .a very very stupid questio guaranteed to make everyone throw their arms up and shout "
YOU UTTER TWIT!"


Um, I never understood what Jemaine meant by the line "
What's your overhead?"
What the hell does that mean?? WHAAAAAT???

A. You are NOT an utter twit! The fact that you don't know what overhead is means you are creative and don't have a boring job. ;
)
2. <
---- (keeps things interesting) Overhead -- Business expenses not directly related to a particular good or service produced. Examples are insurance, utilities, and rent. Jemaine is saying, if little slave kid labor is so cheap, why do you have to charge so much for sneakers? How much are you paying for non-sneaker related expenses?
iii. Yeah, I have a (sometimes) boring job. How did you know?

A story about a simple conversation
People are attracted to story. Watch Jemaine and Bret below keep an audience engaged and following their words even when it's a story "
about nothing"
at all really.

this is what got my attention with them. My husband was showing me HipHopopatomus vs. Rhymenocerous and I was like "
Why is that so special?"
but then when he put Jenny on I was like GENIUS! we are all natural storytellers...some are better than others. but when you can combine the art of storytelling and physical body language you get something that is the bottom of the barrel true and that's what makes great comedy.

The other obvious example is of course Albi...even though the song is quite childlike and has a very simple lessons they are all lesson we are trying to learn. "
love, don't be racist, and forgiveness"
seriously...this may seem like the most nerdiest thing I will say but the fact that bret and jemaine could make up two characters and put it into a cutesy little song makes you think "
why didn't I think of that? that's hilarious"
and only because it's true and it's a lesson...which is another epitome of storytelling. which is why all kids stories have characters that teach us lessons...and those are funny too.

oh! i know I will think of more! ;
)

AND CHLOE! that was not a stupid question at all! if you don't know business then you wouldn't know what overheads are...don't ever feel silly about asking a question on here!

I love overanalysis so much. So much. New favorite thread! ♥


[size=75:asfk29wx](and see, I don't even have anything intelligent or constructive to add, just "
lol good post!!"
I'm usually more charismatic than this?)

haha. . I don't know business at all. I guess that's a rule for us artsy types. " title="" border="0"/>

hellomyfriend wrote:*watching as all of the people who actually had sex in high school run screaming from this thread*

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<
--- also a nerd, but....
<
--- also had sex in high school, so....

*quickly runs away, flailing arms wildly in the air*

chloe wrote:haha. . I don't know business at all. I guess that's a rule for us artsy types. " title="" border="0"/>

ditto that!

<
------Did not have sex in highschool

YAAAY! I can stay! " title="" border="0"/>


<
--------.. did not have sex ever


um. . . .*slinks away*


So anyway, it seems I am woefully unlearned not only in the ways of business, but in the ways of Business Time.

oh

<
-----had sex in high school
<
-----still a nerd


*hollers* EVERYONE COME BACK!

I'm not sure how to describe what they do: Their act is sort of like a Kiwi mix of Seinfeld meets the Smothers Brothers if they were folk/hip-hop musicians... Actually, they defy description, but they are simply brilliant without fancifulness, pretense or gimmickery.

I love this! so true! and that's why *I* love them!

ok..I just wanted to say this about "
Think About it"
...the guys is saying that it's a little weird song...but I've noticed something about what they guys do to their songs. and it specifically goes to the line after bret sings "
ooowwww-Can someone get the knife and fork out of my leg please?"


What makes the guys genius is the ability to make something as serious as something being stuck in your leg, which is a knife and fork and already makes this funny, and turns it into a jazz like upbeat song...because then Jemaine sings in his sultry jazz like voice "
Could somebody please...remove these cutleries...from my knees"
and then you laugh! " title="" border="0"/> and you laugh because that makes the issue sound so trivial but funny!

ahh yes...i am a nerd and this is why I love them

step0nmi wrote:oh

<
-----had sex in high school
<
-----still a nerd


*hollers* EVERYONE COME BACK!

I'm saving myself for Jemaine, so. . . .*comes back*

My brain exploded with goodness.
I over analyze everything.
And here is an analysis through the ideas of comedy.
What is great about FotC is that they have harnessed the power of comedy, a power that can allow them to express any points or stances about life and society they personally believe in without any serious repercussions as it is "
just comedy"
or "
just a parody"
, whether they realize it or not quite yet. I am curious to see if they plan on delving deeper into social issues they relate to, to create their comedy into a form of high comedy.

For instance, we have the obvious "
lessons"
in the Drive By episode of racism on many levels: racism against, racism experienced, racism acknowledged, racism ignored. The situations are both visual and pure entertainment, but intentions can be understood as much more as racism is a very familiar issue we all have dealt with.
But the "
true"
lessons can only be discovered with the ending.
What is great to notice is that there isn't a true happy ending. Sure, they reconcile with Sinjay (sp), but it is over a misunderstanding, not so much a recognition that racism is wrong. Further, they go on to ridicule an Australian Guard.
This ending provides a person some dissatisfaction with the fact that the characters really haven't changed themselves, allowing a further questioning of the self on whether or not one can change racist attitudes? Is it humanly possible to rid ourselves of racism completely? Will we only identify misunderstandings through personal interactions and maintain the stereotypes with the rest of the general race we do not know personally?

More on other elements of high comedy later. I must get to class " title="" border="0"/>

chloe wrote:

step0nmi wrote:oh

<
-----had sex in high school
<
-----still a nerd


*hollers* EVERYONE COME BACK!

I'm saving myself for Jemaine, so. . . .*comes back*

you make me LOL so often! I wish you would come and chat in the sb once in a while ;
)

ok...nerds getting back to over analyzing the conchords

roxy said: But the "
true"
lessons can only be discovered with the ending.
What is great to notice is that there isn't a true happy ending. Sure, they reconcile with Sinjay (sp), but it is over a misunderstanding, not so much a recognition that racism is wrong. Further, they go on to ridicule an Australian Guard.

i've always noticed this...and was let down by the outcome...yes, the episode is quite funny and you are right! the characters themselves don't change but their relationship changes because of the 'misunderstanding'.

but isn't this what is socially acceptable? again, It would not be comedy if it were not true. we've all done it at one time or another...where we say something we had no idea we shouldn't have said and someone corrects us on it... then we are all like "
oh, my bad!"
I know I've done it *raises hand* and I just looked like a dork about it but then everyone laughed and, on the surface, said our apologies.
and no...we cannot rid ourselves of racism completely...I just don't think that's possible.

so...would it be called comedy if the end of that show was all wrapped up in a neat little package of Synjay (someone correct us on sp?) saying "
omg! that was so racist of me...I'm sorry"
and then them all having a discussion on all the misconceptions of NZ vs AU? hmmm

VERY good point though! ;
)

(and I totally know the show looses it's effectiveness after they start flipping the Australian Guard the bird...but it's just soo funny!)

Totally love this thread.

<
-----Big nerd...in high school and probably still am. whateva

<
----had sex in high school....it helps if the other person is also a nerd.

Cause nerd sex rocks. Would love to write awe inspiring analysis of FOTC and there works but it's pretty much already been said.

christi wrote:Cause nerd sex rocks.

this is one of the best statements i have ever heard!!


i apologize that i have nothing of real worth to contribute to this thread. :-[ i'm merely hoping that my nerd status allows me to be here.

around these parts nerd status is all you need

i thought nikki was the one that liked to analyze stuff too? that's why she posted this right?

*searches for nikki by squinting*

sharona65 wrote:

christi wrote:Cause nerd sex rocks.

this is one of the best statements i have ever heard!!


i apologize that i have nothing of real worth to contribute to this thread. :-[ i'm merely hoping that my nerd status allows me to be here.

I don't either. . .we should just turn this into a topic about nerd sex.

chloe wrote:

sharona65 wrote:

this is one of the best statements i have ever heard!!


i apologize that i have nothing of real worth to contribute to this thread. :-[ i'm merely hoping that my nerd status allows me to be here.

I don't either. . .we should just turn this into a topic about nerd sex.

hahahaha! that would be awesome! although, i fear the wordy folks may get upset if we overtake their thread.

Haha.You guys are awesome. I think I might have a competitor for the most off topic award now " title="" border="0"/> lol