What do you do if you need to do a poo in Sweden? Well, this is nothing really what we research here on the Swedish Blog. I am so sorry guys! For finding toilet facilities in Sweden; the easiest way is to brush up your Swedish or English before coming here. But talking about poo….My and Linnea Ericsson aka. Angry Law have recently aired with a new stand-up comedy show  on the Swedish Radio P3. They host another show as well called Bajsnödigt in the city of Gothenburg (Poo+needful, i.e. Someone who has to do a poo. In salng it refers to people who are sensitively overstrung and prudish).

Humor is something that unites people. Or which divides them. It can build bridges between different cultures and save us from embarrassment. It can probably start a diplomatic war, if used in a somewhat clumsy way. What people think is funny is completely individual and is largely based on past experiences and references. So it’s hard to tell about humor as it is so personal. I have looked closely at a humor duet that has gone from making dance performances in mainly Gothenburg to get its own radio show at the Swedish Radio. I met My Ericsson (who is one half of The Angry Law-team, on the right) to talk about humor.

-What is The Angry Law?
The Angry Law is a concept, a dance group and many things more. It all began in 2005 when we (Linnea and My Ericsson) were hired as background dancers for a musician called James Ausfahrts first gig here in Gothenburg. This was the beginning of The Angry Law. We didn´t have any experience of dancing and made the decision the evening before the gig. I remembered that we wore nice costumes with Angry Law written all over. After that gig we were asked to do more dances with other musicians. But after some time we decided to step forward and started to make our own dance and song-based performances. Today we almost exclusively write sketch-comedy. The step from dance and song didn’t feel as big as it might sound. Our dancing were more funny than fantastic. And we often write songs as a part of our sketch-comedy.

–Why do you think you are funny?
We assume that if we laugh at our own material it must be good enough. (Swedish humor no 1.)
All of The Angry Laws performances, dances and songs are always based on The Angry Law Manifest:
1. The time between idea and action should always be minimal.

(-Well, this sounds like a good and catchy philosophy for me.)

2. Unnecessarily preparation is reprehensible
3. The Angry Law takes place in the public sphere without shame
I think it is important to dare yourself to do things. Especially women tend to be so self-critical and with our manifest we focus on doing stuff more than just thinking of how to do it.
The most important thing is to have fun when we produce our material.
We find our inspiration everywhere; from friends, colleagues, writers and people that simply irritates us, which are inexhaustible sources. (Swedish humor no2.)

-What do Swedish people laugh about (if you compare Swedish and for example English humor)? Is it good if you push Swedes out of their comfort zone, when it comes to humor?

It seems like there are different categories, but this is not special for Swedes. It´s also a question of sex. Men tend to laugh at male comedians, and women like female artists. But since you take England as an example, i think Swedes love English humor. Our cultures seem to be very suitable for each other. Monthy Phyton, Little Britain, French and Saunders are really popular. And The office, of course! A bit silly, a bit dry, and really on-the-edge. I think everything from England goes here, but in the future I wish that Sweden could give something back! And regarding your second question: yes, I think it´s important to push forward when it comes to comedy. That is how the humor develops together with the society. I think that the greatest humor is the one that are just about to pass into the “not-okay-zone”.

-What is your next project?
2011 is a really exciting year for The Angry Law. During the spring we are going to host our own humor-radio show in Swedish public service, channel P3. It will be called
The Angry Law Show. We also host for a humor club in Gothenburg called Bajsnödigt –en pilotscen för humor. Premiere is 4th of March and for information about the event please check out www.bajsnodigt.se You can join both shows´ fan sites on facebook as well. Just click on the hyper links: Bajsnödigt and the new Angry Law Show
TO WIN THE TICKETS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU FIND VERY FUNNY IN SWEDISH SOCIETY. LINNEA AND MY WILL PICK THE WINNER. YOU SHOULD BE LIVING IN SWEDEN/GOTHENBURG OR WILLING TO TRAVEL FOR THE LIVE SHOW ON 4th MARCH 2011 AT THE HOUSE OF WINWIN IN GOTHENBURG. WE CHOOSE THE WINNER ON THE 23rd FEBRUARY. GOOD LUCK!