Yitwail--
The whole shebang is on my list of "Reread Someday". I have a feeling that the slant of Arab humor available to westerners may be "masculine" in the sense of "barracks-room" rather than geared for female ears.
yes, there probably is a large element of bawdiness. but the particular story i mention is a bit more refined than that. if you get around to reading it, i'd be interested in your reaction.
When I was in a French prison camp, we had a joker who kept needling the guards. One day he was told that tomorrow he will get his head shaved, as punishment.
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He had lots of great wavy hair, in those days it was unthinkable to lose it. It was the pride of every man.
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In the morning we were called out for counting. Surprise, the joker had his head shaved overnight by a buddy and the French were foaming at the mouth with anger.
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He took the wind out of their sails; we loved that crazy guy.
Yitwail--
I found the Tale of the Barber here:
http://www.wollamshram.ca/1001/Sn_5/15tale8.htm
Bawdy? Yes. "Masculine" humor? Yes. Introspective and illuminating? ...not really.
The woman triumphs, but the husband, the lover and the barber are all humiliated.
Noddy, you have the wrong barber. the one i have in mind is embedded in the Hunchback's tale. it's longish, so should you decide to read it & find it unpalatable, i agree to read something longish of your choosing. also, you won't miss much by skipping ahead to the Tale of the Tailor, which is where the barber makes his debut.
http://www.wollamshram.ca/1001/Vol_1/tale6.htm
Yitwail--
I skipped down to the "Tale of the Tailor" , but lost enthusiasm.
The world of Bagdad seems to be an arbitrary place with the mills of Allah grinding, grinding, grinding all the time. With Allah and the Caliph both so powerful there doesn't seem to be much room for introspective humor.
you're a sport for trying, anyhow. i'm unsure to what extent 1001 nights is representative of Islamic culture today, anyway. we discuss it because we're familiar with it, but as you've pointed out, it's far removed in time from the present.
Insha'Allah still holds.
If everything in the culture happens according to the will of Allah, there isn't much room for wit.
