Parody is usually considered a complimentary embellishment on events or people which are generally well known. It would be difficult for someone who has no frame of reference to the actual events to enjoy a spoof of them. Being primarily visual and social allows folks to not only have an interest in what is going on in the world around them but also gives them opportunity to try to fit things into their understanding of life in general and their preferences in particular. Parody can be profound.
Mockery is usually considered to be the disparaging embellishment of the same. It aims at exposing the hypocrisy of ludicrous behavior. It also requires a basic knowledge of the issue at hand to convey the correct impact for its audience. Without similar moral and even justice driven values much of its clever nuance will be ineffectual. While a parody might center on a strength or positive attribute, a mockery most often is thought to be stimulated by negativity and even unacceptable judgment or character. Pity the mocked fool.
There are also a number of other descriptive methods such as satire, spoof, or sarcasm which shed light on a situation of common interest. Most of these would fall between the first two mentioned in severity and content. Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery. Yet it doesn’t take a great deal of deviance from who or what happened to stretch a kind hearted gesture into a wicked stab in the heart. The fairest question is concerning intent. Regardless of how a response presents itself, motive determines magnificence or malevolence.
One of the most influential events and persons in the known history of the earth is the person of Jesus Christ. According to believers and followers, He is the only begotten Son of the living God. He was miraculously born of a virgin, suffered an unjust death on a Roman crucifixion cross, was resurrected from the grave three days later and after forty days went into Heaven. Before leaving His disciples He promised to return and receive all who would believe on Him into eternal life in Heaven with Him.
The counter account disparages His miraculous birth as the product of lust with a Roman soldier. It sees His brief ministry as a rebel shrouded in mystery, finding all the carnal pleasure He could in His magnetic persuasive powers of charm. They would point to trickery and chicanery, mass delusion and conspiracy as the basis for His resurrection and ascension. The Rock Opera Jesus Christ Super Star attempted to dissuade viewers from giving credibility to the Biblical account. Other depictions also show Him as contrary in morals and deity to the God He claimed to be.
What is it that we do with these accounts that matters as conductors or governors in our lives? Where does any of this impact us so we are the better or the worse in our existence and relationships with others? Someone who attempts to demonstrate their perceived importance will often say that they have ”people to see, places to go and things to do”. It is a little self-aggrandizement for the sake of stroking their ego. Yet their view of themselves is often influenced by what has been presented of those who have gone before them. They may have a profound understanding that someone will uplift their tale and another will cut them down.
The key to truly filling the role you are destined to in this life is to know that while truth will lean you more in one direction than another, you still fall somewhere in the middle. Understanding the motives of the presenter will assist you in determining the validity of their account. Faults are ignored by followers and flaunted by those who would be judge and jury. It is a healthy perspective to understand that you are no closer to victory than you last success and your last failure. And a pity to think otherwise.
Seeing someone you highly esteem brutally maligned can be an arduous trial. As can observing someone you measure with intense wickedness being admired for their awesome character. Yet herein I give my magnificent: “Both are true”. The most evil monster is capable of finding the opposite end of their spectrum at some point. The most philanthropically minded doter can squeamishly hoard in their heart. All in one lifetime. All in one being. We make good and evil opposite sides of the same coin. It is an easy application of what we experience in life. Most likely it is profoundly unfair.
Most of us are judged quickly in the light of public opinion while we are present. Few of us will be impactful beyond our mortal existence. I seriously doubt there will be sufficient memory of my short feeble time on earth to inspire or connect with future occupants of my space in such a way as to cause their interest in presenting either end of the continuum of my life and events. Still I would be interested in influencing their view of those I respect and teaching them to avoid those I found despicable. That they might do otherwise I find quite pitiful.