I'm Not Entirely Dead Yet!

Monty Python will always stand in my mind as the greatest comedy troupe that has ever existed.  While some may protest that the Marx Brothers deserve this illustrious title I say to them that you can't even compare the two to one another.  Monty Python single-handedly changed the face of comedy by throwing caution to the winds and breaking modern form in every way possible.  Some would call their work nonsensical but in order to truly understand the reasons behind their comedic choices you have to know the ins and outs of British society at the time.  Everyone knows that Brits have a tendency to be a little stuffy.  Just watch Downton Abbey.

Men dressing in drag?! Most Unorthodox!

So what are a group of unruly, non-conformist men supposed to do in that situation.  Mock it into oblivion!  That's precisely what they did.  They used bitting wit and satire to deconstruct the societal norms that they believed to be oppressive and downright stupid.  It may not look like brilliance at first, but when you know why what they were doing was so earth shattering it really comes into perspective.