Benjamin Franklin wrote a satirical essay in 1781 titled "A Letter to a Royal Academy" discussing flatulence and proposing a theoretical solution if a medicine could be invented to reduce the odor so people could pass gas freely in public like other bodily functions. While intended for a scientific audience, the piece was meant as satire mocking such contests. Similarly, George Carlin's comedy routines often incorporated fart jokes to get laughs. Both Franklin and Carlin used discussions of flatulence to attract broader audiences and exercise free speech, establishing themselves as revolutionary satirists rather than being limited by conventions of their times.

1. BENJAMIN
A COMPARISON WITH ONE OF AMERICA’S FOUNDING
FATHERS AND “FART” HUMOR IN TODAY’S SOCIETY.
FARTS &
FRANKLIN

2. FARTS
(WARNING VULGAR LANGUAGE)
• A joke about bodily functions is almost guaranteed to
get a laugh in any room.
• The first recorded joke in history was about a fart.
• “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a
young woman did not fart in her husband's lap.”
• Why are fart jokes funny? Especially in “civilized
societies”?
• Definition: verb (used without object) to expel a flatus through the
anus; break wind.
• Who wouldn’t want to laugh at something that relates
to our rear end’s and the term “break wind”?

3. A FAMOUS MAN…
Those who were taught U.S. History growing up are all
familiar with Benjamin Franklin. He is considered to be one
of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
He was also well known as an inventor. People commonly
associate him with electricity and flying a kite with a key on
it during a thunderstorm.
Franklin was also an author. He wrote many essays ranging
from his outrage to the atrocities that the British was
inflicting on the colonies to Poor Richard’s Almanack.

4. WHAT’S SO FUNNY ABOUT
• Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay all about
farting and a theory to solve it.
• Even though it was sent to a “scientific
audience” the piece was far more satirical.
• The Essay that was written in 1781 was titled:
A Letter to a Royal Academy
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN?

5. “A LETTER
• Franklin wrote about a bodily function
• In a proper society, the idea of discussing something so crude
as “passing a foul wind”, would be considered a taboo subject.
• His presence and respect gave his piece more merit and
respect because he defied the idea of what was considered
proper.
• If someone with less notoriety would talk about such a
subject, they would be considered crass. Unless they were
originally labeled as a “fool”
TO A ROYAL ACADEMY”

6. SATIRE!
• Benjamin Franklin’s writings were considered
revolutionary at the time.
• In addition to his academic musing’s, Franklin was also a
Satirist.
• Satirist meaning that he would
• But(t)! (no pun intended…ok maybe a little)
• His 1781 piece was considered satirical, mocking the idea of
scientific contests, because the man who discovered electricity
decided to contribute by writing about one thing…FARTS!
“…all together, scarcely worth a FARThing.”
DEFINITION:
noun 1. the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the
like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice,
folly, etc.

7. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN = SATIRIST
• One could argue that one piece about flatulence, does
not a comedian make. Carl Japiske argues in his edited
book “Fart Proudly” that Franklin was not only being
“light-hearted”. He was exercising his right to free
speech. Franklin’s satirical musings attracted readers that
may not initially have read his other pieces, but were
more likely to after reading his funnier pieces of work.
• I believe that’s were parallels start being more evident
between Franklin and today’s comedians.
• For Example: George Carlin
GEORGE CARLIN = COMEDIAN

8. GEORGE CARLIN
The following YouTube video is George Carlin’s
set on a subject many comedians will use in one
form another. Jokes about farts.
*WARNING – CRUDE LANGUAGE
ON FARTS

9. FART VERSUS FART
A LETTER TO THE ROYAL
ACADEMY
“Were it not for the odiously offense
Smell accompanying-such Escapes,
polite people would probably be
under no more restraint in
discharging such Wind in Company,
than they are in spitting or in
blowing their Noses.”
• Benjamin Franklin discussing the
indelicate nature of this bodily
function in public. Especially after
eating.
• Franklin then goes on to theorize
if there was “medicine” invented,
people would fart more freely in
public.
FART JOKES
“What would a comedy show
be without a few fart jokes.”
• Carlin opens his bit with eating
too much food and not passing
gas being in public all day.
• Carlin talks about releasing a “test
fart” and then after that just
farting to get it out in the open.
• Carlin talking about how farting
can clear out a room.
FRANKLIN VS. CARLIN

10. AND THE FART
Benjamin Franklin’s essay had a double meaning. During a
time where the United States was new on the global scene,
Franklin was trying to show the older countries the
ridiculousness of “scientific thinking” in a conservative society.
He was able to obtain a larger audience because he did not
write about a term that would be too complicated for the
general public. Franklin wrote about an “affliction” that
everyone could relate to. That is why I believe not only did he
help establish a new country. He helped establish ideals that
were slightly less prudish. It doesn’t matter if you are part of a
royal family or a beggar on the street. Laughter comes from
all forms, and everyone can find a fart joke “funny”.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

11. WORKS CITED
• “Benjamin Franklin.” Wikipedia 28 Nov. 2016,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin
• Franklin, Benjamin. Fart Proudly. Writings of Benjamin Franklin
You Never Read in school. Edited by Carl Japiske Enthea
Press, 2003.
• “George Carlin – Fart Jokes.”YouTube, uploaded by
hotchilliedouble 3 Dec 2011,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCtiQTQQ7QA&fea
ture=youtu.be
• Morgan, Edmund S. Benjamin Franklin. New Haven: Yale
University Press, 2002. Internet resource.