Can there be a deadly condition of “too much applause” that is bad for the body and damaging to the community whole?  Is it more cruel to sit on your hands and withhold applause — or is it better to applaud to show support and how well mannered you are no matter who or what or why your hands are making sound against each other?


We have a terrible tendency as programmed members of society to voraciously applaud every little fart and burp in the name of celebrity, politics and sports and I wonder why we so aimlessly and automatically join the applause of others?

Why is there such a race between two hands clapping?  Do we become our enthusiastic hands even as our spirit dies? 

If we clap the loudest, does that mean we are set apart from those who merely clap — but never really applaud?

When our hands become numb and red from over-clapping — have we succeeded only in creating private pain and not a unique, public, celebration?

Applause has become a way for an audience to unduly assert their personality into an event to affect the outcome.  Clapping blesses only the famous few; clapping interrupts major speeches; clapping is an overt, partisan, act in what should be universally encouraged competition between athletes.

Violent applause pleases no one and wounds the atmosphere of coming together as a single, cognitive, mob of emotion.  One person clapping isn’t an audience and a group of people refusing to applaud sends an ominous and dangerous message that the masses are not pleased.

Applauding is a voice in your wrists, a vote in your hands, and a knife in your fingertips; and we must all begin to re-evaluate how and where we choose to serve up the total emotion of full-body applause.

Do we reserve our loudest exhortations for only those we love and personally know? 

Or is it wholly proper to applaud in the abstract for team, country and party?

To applaud for everything renders the acting meaningless; to applaud without devotion is a condemnation against desire; and applause without intent leaves us all directionless and uninspired by the very act that is supposed to lift us up to the heavens in the arms of others.

20 Comments

  1. Kathakali Chatterjee – Hyderabad, India – Professionally, I have an interesting concoction of experience -- from entertainment industry to retailing to executive education -- the journey is still on. When I don't work, I love to travel, read, listen to music and watch movies.
    Kathakali Chatterjee says:

    We should applaud what we really care for David, or else it a waste.

  2. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    The problem in the USA, at least, Katha — is that if you don’t stand and salute and applaud and scream you’re considered un-American or you don’t support the team/president/war/olympics/movie…

  3. Kathakali Chatterjee – Hyderabad, India – Professionally, I have an interesting concoction of experience -- from entertainment industry to retailing to executive education -- the journey is still on. When I don't work, I love to travel, read, listen to music and watch movies.
    Kathakali Chatterjee says:

    Well, David – so what if you don’t just “support” it? You have every right to voice your opinion!
    Or one needs to be politically correct to be a part of the system?

  4. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Hi Katha —
    If you don’t at least pretend to go along you get punished and ostracized. Have you seen fake clapping? People look like they’re clapping, but they never let their palms touch to make a sound. It’s a fascinating revelation of a private rebellion.

  5. Kathakali Chatterjee – Hyderabad, India – Professionally, I have an interesting concoction of experience -- from entertainment industry to retailing to executive education -- the journey is still on. When I don't work, I love to travel, read, listen to music and watch movies.
    Kathakali Chatterjee says:

    Ha!
    Never saw it David!
    So you actually pretend to clap without actually clapping?
    If it’s a way of protest then it’s just awesome.

  6. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Yes. You pretend to be clapping but if everyone else stopped clapping you would not be making any sound. Theatre people are sort of famous for doing that — it’s a silent protest against their envy and jealousy against the success of others.

  7. I am fond of fake clapping. Sometimes I will intentionally do what I call uncoordinated clapping, where I miss on purpose.
    It makes me giggle when an audience claps at the end of a movie. Who is their intended recipient for their applause?

  8. David!
    It is the applause of the many-headed, fully automatic that we must not take to heart, for they come loud and they come in great numbers and with scant understanding.

  9. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Gordon! You fake clapper you! We should not confuse “fake clapping” with ye olde “golf clap” for those who are keeping score.
    Wasn’t uncoordinated clapping perfected by Ronald Reagan while president? He never seemed able to keep the beat.
    The end-of-the-movie clappers are slapping themselves on the back for being able to put up with such a waste of time and money.
    We thank you.

  10. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Dananjay —
    Right! Have you ever seen a “State of the Union” address from the USA? The inane clapping is so fake, so loud, and so partisan that it makes the speech twice as long as it should be!

  11. Yes, David, I think I saw one long ago. But I know exactly what you’re referring to, it’s almost like we clap because it’s expected and the done thing. more like a ritual than every person’s individual expression of solidarity.

  12. I distinctly remember when I went to see the reissue of Episode IV of Star Wars that people applauded when the LucasArts logo appeared on the screen; I laughed out of amazement and amusement.

  13. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Dananjay —
    Yes, it’s an inglorious waste of time while people leap to their feat and applaud at every little thing. It’s incredibly disingenuous.

  14. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Right, Gordon! How funny! I wonder if they applaud movies at home or only in a packed theatre?
    Wasn’t there a great line in the last Star Wars movie about democracy dying in applause and cheering as war is declared?

  15. I would imagine they only applaud when others can see them doing so. 🙂 How sad I feel for them.
    There was indeed that great line. I loved it.

  16. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Applause is a strange thing, Gordon. It requires groups. Individuals clapping alone always brings unwanted attention — yet, even in a group, someone needs to start the applause.
    “Reading the applause” is an art in itself!

  18. David Boles – New York City – David Boles was born in Nebraska and holds an MFA from the Oscar Hammerstein II Center for Theatre Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is an author, dramatist, editor, publisher, and teacher who writes across the live stage, print, radio, television, film, and the web. With more than 50 books in print, David continues to write 2MM words a year and has authored over 25K articles. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Authors Guild, and PEN America, and founded The United Stage advocacy platform on the principle that playwrights have a duty to direct their own work. Read the Prairie Voice Archive at Boles.com | Buy his books at David Boles Books Writing & Publishing at BolesBooks.com | Study with Script Professor at ScriptProfessor.com | Touch American Sign Language mastery at Hardcore ASL at HardcoreASL.com | Explore the Human Meme podcast at HumanMeme.com | Train with Boles Bells at BolesBells.com.
    David W. Boles says:

    Ha! LOVE THOSE VIDEO LINKS, GORDON! RIGHT ON!

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