Dear Anglophiles: What words come to mind when you think of British humor? Words like zany, deadpan, self-depreciating, quirky, satirical, and slapstick come to mine. Oh, and eccentric. Last week, a lovely British couple, John and Janet, who are cartoonists, emailed me delightful samples of their cartoon work. They also told me about a highly quirky competition founded in Britain called "gurning." Maybe you've heard of it--I had not. It's my pleasure to share these nuggets of British humor with you!
Now, about this "gurning". . . . I dare say that only the British, renown for their eccentricity, would come up with this sport! In a gurning, or "face pulling," contest, competitors put a horse collar over their head, framing their face with it, and then proceed to make as ugly and contorted a facial expression as humanly possible. Tongues protrude, eyes cross, jaws jut, dentures are taken out--you get the picture. Below are a couple of samples--enjoy!
GURNING, THE WORLD'S UGLIEST SPORT
GURNING, THE WORLD'S UGLIEST SPORT
WORLD GURNING CHAMPIONSHIP
