Ridiculous things have a peculiar power to shake us loose and lighten our spirits. For those of us who are intellectually inclined they can be a wondrous aid. While I'd argue most people nowadays fail to approach anything of real importance with a reverent seriousness―and that this is at the root of many of our modern difficulties―there is truth in the notion that we can take ourselves too seriously, that we can inhabit that mentality too rigidly and too long.

 Enter the absurd. I've always loved comedy that tended toward the ridiculous, there's something so primal and silly in it which penetrates more deeply than wit. My Stick by Bad Lip Reading is a stellar example of something absurd that I can't help but laugh at. Their modus operandi, if you're unfamiliar, is taking clips and editing them together with fake subtitles, sometimes it's musical and other times not. I don't frequent the channel that often, but the two Yoda videos are golden.

 You'll just have to watch it to see what I mean. It's over the top, ridiculous, even stupid, but damn is it funny. I found it shortly before Christmas of last year and I ended up playing it over and over again for my family on Christmas, where we all laughed and enjoyed it together. It's a good memory. If you find you've become a bit too brooding and contemplative then why not try the antidote of absurdity? It's free, after all!