your best joke What makes that joke funny Or what makes it not funny Knock Knock E B White said Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog Few people are interested and the frog dies of ID: 566239
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Slide1Slide2
Turn to the person next to you. Tell them
your best joke
.
What makes that joke funny? Or, what makes it not funny?
Knock Knock…Slide3
E. B. White said,
“Analyzing
humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of
it.”Although definitions of humor differ somewhat, depending on whether one approaches it from a psychological, anthropological, or literary perspective, most scholars agree that it is rooted in expectation and surprise.
One
of the fundamental aspects of humor is that it disrupts expectations. It violates our logical perceptions of the normal.
Analyzing HumorSlide4
We are going to watch an example of classic comedy. As you watch, please jot down a few answers to the following question:
What makes this funny?
Classic ComedySlide5
A
nother aspect of humor: it can be
hostile
. Whether playfully self-deprecating or virulently abusive, most humor has a target. Someone or something is the butt of the joke.That being said, humor also…Helps builds communityAllows us to discuss topics that are difficult & uncomfortable by easing that discomfort
Humor & power
Whatever is funny is subversive.
—George OrwellSlide6
i·ro·ny
1
ˈ
īrənē/nounthe expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.Ex: “Don't go overboard with the gratitude,” she said
with heavy
irony as she passed out the test"Humor Techniques: ironySlide7
The word "extreme" is enjoying extreme popularity these days. We seem to have extreme EVERYTHING. This fits well with humor, because exaggeration can make or break a humor piece.
For this prompt, let's take it up a notch.
Take an everyday experience and make it extreme.
Extreme Dog Walking. Extreme Birthday Parties. Extreme English Class.Whatever you pick, make it funny in the extreme.
Your Task:
Answer the prompt. Include at least one instance of irony.The color GREEN
.
Your TurnSlide8
Be the joke
Be
specific
Pay attention to the mundaneUse comedic timingUse the thesaurusUse metaphors & similes
like nobody’s business
Edit!Tips for writing funnySlide9
H
ow
being a journalist might influence
Twain’s fictional writing style? an attention to detailcontextualizing informationspecificity to location
(answers to the classic, "who, what,
where, why" questions)What else about his life might have influenced his humor?
Dark childhood
Realities of the world in which he grew up
Twain & HumorSlide10
Homework
Read
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”
Answers the questions as you go through, they direct you to focus on Twain’s tone & humor (specifically his use of
irony
) in order to understand his messageWe will be discussing this in class tomorrow