Meaning: "Jackass: The Movie" is a 2002 American reality comedy film that was directed by Jeff Tremaine and produced by Spike Jonze and Johnny Knoxville. The film is based on the MTV reality series "Jackass," which featured a group of friends performing various dangerous and absurd stunts and pranks. The quote you provided, attributed to Matthew Barney, an American artist known for his multimedia works, highlights the film's connection to physical comedy and its exploration of the relationship between the human body and gravity.

Physical comedy has a long-standing tradition in entertainment, dating back to the early days of theater and vaudeville. It involves using the body and its movements to create humor, often through exaggerated or slapstick actions. "Jackass: The Movie" embodies this tradition by showcasing a series of outrageous and often painful stunts and pranks performed by the cast members. These stunts often involve physical risk and absurdity, which elicit a visceral and immediate response from the audience.

The reference to gravity in the quote speaks to the fundamental physical force that governs the actions and movements of the human body. Gravity affects how objects interact with each other and how the body responds to various physical challenges. In the context of "Jackass: The Movie," the influence of gravity is evident in the way the cast members' bodies react to the stunts they perform. Whether it's jumping off a rooftop, crashing into objects, or launching themselves into the air, the film captures the unpredictable and often chaotic effects of gravity on the human body.

Matthew Barney's interest in the relationship between gravity and the body aligns with the themes explored in his own artistic works. Known for his ambitious and visually stunning projects that often incorporate elements of performance, sculpture, and film, Barney's art delves into the human body's physical and symbolic potential. By acknowledging "Jackass: The Movie" as a part of the tradition of physical comedy, Barney highlights the film's engagement with the raw, unfiltered physicality of the human form and its interactions with the forces of nature.

In a broader sense, physical comedy has always been a source of fascination for audiences due to its ability to evoke both laughter and a sense of awe at the physical feats and endurance of the performers. The willingness of the "Jackass" cast to push their bodies to the limit in pursuit of comedic and often absurd goals reflects a longstanding tradition of performers testing the boundaries of physical expression. This tradition can be traced back to the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and the Three Stooges, who used their bodies and physicality to entertain and connect with audiences.

"Jackass: The Movie" and its subsequent sequels have been both praised and criticized for their extreme and sometimes dangerous stunts. However, at its core, the film embodies the spirit of physical comedy by presenting a raw and unfiltered exploration of the body's relationship to gravity and the physical world. Through their willingness to endure pain, discomfort, and embarrassment for the sake of entertainment, the "Jackass" cast members exemplify the enduring appeal and impact of physical comedy on popular culture.

In conclusion, Matthew Barney's acknowledgment of "Jackass: The Movie" as a part of the tradition of physical comedy underscores the film's exploration of the human body's relationship to gravity and its unapologetic embrace of physical risk and absurdity. The film's influence on popular culture and its place within the broader history of physical comedy reflect the enduring fascination with the raw physicality of performance and its ability to elicit both laughter and a sense of wonder from audiences.