THE YANKEE

After the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence, a sense of freedom was wrought throughout the land. This sense of liberation not only broke the ties with Europe, it caused a feeling of breaking the reigns of all forms of oppression. Through the once ubiquitous Puritan ideal which confined and dominated peoples' lives throughout the beginning of colonization, came holes where expression of this freedom was bound to spring out. An opposition embarked between the dark emotions of the Puritan and this unbinding of its traditional faith.

In the beginning of the eighteenth century a character began to vent out of this constrained lifestyle. He came to be called the Yankee. The origin of the term "Yankee" is not known although the he is often compared the yeomen of Yorkshire, England who were of similar constitution. The Yankee was first perceived as a mere peddler, walking from town to town, selling random exotic goods, engaging in queer conversation, telling tall tales. He was a mysterious character, shrewd, solitary, simple mannered and stern. His strength in personality was comparable to that of the Puritanical archetype but he was "no simple son of the Pilgrim fathers" (Constance Rourke, American Humor, Corncobs Twist Your Hair, p.8).  I envisioned his character like someone out of a J.R.R. Tolkien book; a wanderer, laconic, lusty yet looming and obscure. But like so many historical characters, the Yankee was but a myth of his time, a mere characteric which was only illuminated in a random few.  

But this Yankee was many sided and used different masks as he saw fit. This stout personality worked to his benefit in a lingering Puritan power which he secretly denounced. Underneath, the Yankee had come forth from the Revolution mettlesome, marching in stride to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." He had an earthy humor which encompassed the high spirit of the post Revolutionary times. Small acts developed out of keen conversation and he would often delve into his archives of amusing jigs and rhymes.  His approach was extremely witty and he was able to adapt to any local circumstance. He saw himself as a "work of art."  His protean style allowed him to accommodate any crowd in his small informal performances. He could run a monologue for hours. The key to the popularity of his presentation was that he always laid a hint of native identification in his humor. The Yankee was keen in that he could recognize regional differences in culture and he would play off this in adapting his technique. Whether it be the local lingo, dress, or a homely drawl, he could forge his masquerade accordingly. After all, the most affective humor has a way of "hitting home" or identifying with the listener. As Langston Hughes points out in "A Note on Humor," humor is a personal thing which must deal with issues of the self in order to be funny. As Americans watched these improves, they noticed a mirror image of themselves, thus creating an element of self scrutiny. But the Yankee was careful not to dwell to far into the individual portrait but rather the generic group and family issues to which he could acclimate in varying local styles; but all the while upholding a framework of an identifiable national figure which helped to mold.

Into Pop Culture

Various masquerades lead the Yankee to become more and more popular as the myth of the Yankee grew across the nation. "Brother Jonathan," a legendary Yankee icon, grew in popularity as the myth crossed the Atlantic and began to receive attention in Europe. "Brother Jonathan" became a national celebrity but only in conversation or in the occasional cartoon. Soon Yankees all over New England and the East were putting on "Yankee shows." In these small stage shows, the Yankee was always a familiar and symbolic American: the sailor, the wool dealer, the peddler, etc. Typically dressed in red and white striped pants and a blue coat, Brother Jonathan had in fact turned into Uncle Sam on the stage. Typically in monologue form, these shows were extremely popular, exemplifying American life. Occasionally bursting into variations of the tune Yankee Doodle, the crowd felt a part of the show and would cheer on the performer. The first historically identified individual to pave the way into popular culture was Yankee Hill (George Handel Hill), a popular and bold performer. Bordering on political and personal issues, Hill could create any scene he wanted to as he opened the way for a new wave of Yankee performers.

Today's Yankees

I think the style of humor this Yankee character used is well represented in today's humor. Some stand up comedians exemplify this Yankee humor in the way that they present themselves. One connection I especially notice is the identification the crowd feels with the material that the performer is joking about.  People find a sense of humor when a comedian touches on personal issues or "clowns" on something relating to their lifestyle.  Recently I saw a comedian who performed at a University who had the crowd bawling in laughter just because the crowd was a bunch of college students and so naturally he dealt with issues of college life: wooing beautiful members of the opposite sex; getting drunk and attempting keg stands at parties, waking up face down in in the gutter covered in regurgitated cafeteria food, experimenting with mind altering drugs in a consequence free environment while at the same time having promiscuous sex with many anonymous partners, spending all the laundry money your mother gave you on beer resulting in having to wear the same undergarments for a whole term, etc, etc.  In short, a really good comedian, like the comic Yankee, can use the to a crowd's personality to identify with them thus personifying the humor.  A crowd of country-bumpkins from Montana aren't going to enjoy, or even understand, San Franciscan city-humor and vise versa.

Spontaneous improvisation is also something originally demonstrated by the Yankee which still amazes people today.  Although it is fading, this witty oratory humor could be said to persist in popular culture through figures like David Lettermen and Jay Leno.  But most standup comedians have routines which, although usually funny, aren't spontaneous.  Saturday Night Live used to be impromptu but now it isn't even live any more.  And almost never do you see a comedian do an informal show for free.  It is now a commodified trade except for the bit of humor that can be found in everyone and that we all share and enjoy.