Turn to the person next to you. Tell them - PowerPoint Presentation

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Slide1
Slide2

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