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Thread: Tim Kirby on YouTube

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    Завсегдатай chaika's Avatar
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    Tim Kirby on YouTube

    If you want to learn about Culture etc. from an American living there. Start with this one about -- what else? -- водка!

    http://www.youtube.com/user/tkirby3679# ... mEphVR2fw0

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    Старший оракул
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    Re: Tim Kirby on YouTube

    According to his interview to "Эхо Москвы" where he drew a bleak picture of the life in the USA he might look a bit of a traitor or even the enemy of the nation to an average American had the interview been in English. He is okay to a Russian though. Speaks the language fluently enough with a pleasant accent as I think most native English speakers do, which makes the funny things he sometimes says even funnier.
    I didn’t get though what’s so amusing in those in Russia car drives you jokes. OK, the idea is that in Russia whatever they do they do it backwards, not like normal people do. But do Americans find these funny?
    In America, you listen to the radio
    In Soviet Russia, the radio listens to you
    In America, your job determines your marks
    In Soviet Russia, Marx determines your job
    In America, you assassinate the president
    In Soviet Russia, the president assassinates you
    Well, maybe there is something in the Marx joke, but what about the many others? Do they really make you laugh and it’s only my lack of cultural background?

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    Re: Tim Kirby on YouTube

    Quote Originally Posted by alexB
    According to his interview to "Эхо Москвы" where he drew a bleak picture of the life in the USA he might look a bit of a traitor or even the enemy of the nation to an average American had the interview been in English. He is okay to a Russian though. Speaks the language fluently enough with a pleasant accent as I think most native English speakers do, which makes the funny things he sometimes says even funnier.
    I didn’t get though what’s so amusing in those in Russia car drives you jokes. OK, the idea is that in Russia whatever they do they do it backwards, not like normal people do. But do Americans find these funny?
    In America, you listen to the radio
    In Soviet Russia, the radio listens to you
    In America, your job determines your marks
    In Soviet Russia, Marx determines your job
    In America, you assassinate the president
    In Soviet Russia, the president assassinates you
    Well, maybe there is something in the Marx joke, but what about the many others? Do they really make you laugh and it’s only my lack of cultural background?
    The "in Soviet Russia" jokes were invented by Yakov Smirnoff.
    His humour is based on culture clash experienced by an immigrant. Half way through the article, there's a bit about the "in Soviet Russia" jokes. Essentially, they carry political subcontext and is as much a commentary on Soviet Russia as on the American perceptions of it. The jokes are not about backwardness of Russia but about politics. His most famous line is "In America you watch television. In Soviet Russia television watches you". The derivative jokes are not always funny (or not funny to everyone), the joke is in the (cultural) reference to the original jokes. They are also not political anymore (or not always) but are rather a form of absurd humour (which is not for everyone, sadly).
    fortheether likes this.
    If I was kiddin' you, I'd be wearin' a fez and no pants. (Lennie Briscoe)

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    Re: Tim Kirby on YouTube

    Another acceptable one, where television watches you. I actually read the 1984 and can you imagine that, it was in English. Sad story and quite an interesting one. I nailed it in a day or two, I was so taken by it.

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    Re: Tim Kirby on YouTube

    Quote Originally Posted by alexB
    Another acceptable one, where television watches you. I actually read the 1984 and can you imagine that, it was in English. Sad story and quite an interesting one. I nailed it in a day or two, I was so taken by it.
    1984 is a good book but you should read (if you havent already) We (Мы) by Zamyatin as its influence on Orwell is obvious. I actually prefer We to 1984.
    If I was kiddin' you, I'd be wearin' a fez and no pants. (Lennie Briscoe)

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    Re: Tim Kirby on YouTube

    I prefer "Animal farm".
    "Россия для русских" - это неправильно. Остальные-то чем лучше?

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