an introduction to humor in literature a nd in our lives We hear the word humor all the time But what does it mean According to the Random House Dictionary humor is defined as a comic absurd or incongruous quality causing ID: 309907
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Slide1
What is humor?
an introduction to humor in literatureand in our livesSlide2
We hear the word ‘humor’ all the time…
But what does it mean?According to the Random House Dictionary, humor is defined as a comic, absurd, or incongruous quality causing amusement.Slide3
What do we think is funny?
5 rhetorical Categories…Slide4
1. Hyperbole = Exaggeration for effect (
OVERstatement or UNDERstatement)Slide5
EX. Caricature = An exaggeration of a person or archetypeSlide6
2. Incongruity/Reversal: “Things are not what they seem.”Slide7
Incongruity/reversal evokes humorous surprise!
The thing that would logically follow does not follow.You are led to think/believe one thing, but then it ends up being something else.Someone/something doing something that it normally does not do Ex. Self-deprecation, anthropomorphism, absurdity, anything hilariously unexpected.Reversal is in effect if two roles are reversed. If things just… don’t fit, then it’s plain
ol
’
incongruity
.Slide8Slide9
3. Slapstick:
Humor that is physical in nature—”physically funny”Can involve (planned out)physical violence.Goes beyond rational common sense or logical thinking.Ex. People getting hit with/by things, a funny walk or fall, etc.Slide10
Such as…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yc7sgN1zQMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9DNGgPNuFI&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL0B13E96303FE4097Slide11
4.Satire/Parody
Satire and parody both poke fun at people, government, celebrities, works of art/literature, etc. (think Stephen Colbert, The Onion, political cartoons, Shrek, etc.)Verbal irony is involved (saying something that is not to be taken literally) To “get” this humor, you need to know that it’s not really serious, but using a MOCK-SERIOUS tone.Slide12
IRONY USES MOCK-SERIOUS TONESlide13
SATIRE VS. PARODY
More like mockeryHumorous material has a serious goal of social/political awareness or changeOften harshly critical underneath the humor(John Stewart and Stephen Colbert)
More like mimicry
Imitates the thing it is making fun of, but not in part
Goal is just to make audience laugh by lightly mocking humorous aspects of the subject
Sort of a tribute
(
Shrek
)
Slide14
Satire:Slide15
PARODY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0-SVw5MJBUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbgLapRAloQ&feature=relmfuSlide16
5. Wordplay
Witty manipulation of words for humorous effect, often similar sounding words or double-meanings are used.Ex. Puns, innuendo, excessive alliteration or funny metaphorsA coffin falls out of the vehicle carrying it. The
undertaker says, “Oh, we
should rehearse that.”
GET IT? RE-HEARSE??!!
Ahahahahaha
….Slide17
What is not funny…
and why.
“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative
.” --Oscar
Wilde on homogeneous, repeated potty humorSlide18
Some kinds of “humor” are inappropriate in polite, intelligent company
Racist, sexist, religious, or homophobic jokesTeasing/Bullying for ANY reasonVulgarity for the sake of being vulgarRepeating the same thing over and overClichésSlide19
Remember: there is difference between being cruel and immature and actually being funny. It is
never okay to laugh at someone else’s expense, whether it is a group of people or an individual.**Unless the person being mocked knows it, and is
expressly okay
with it (like
a“roast
” of a
celebrity). If even SLIGHTLY in doubt, don’t say it.Slide20
Is humor universal?
Humor requires a relationship and an understanding between the speaker or writer and his audience. Without this understanding, humor cannot exist. Humor is worth nothing if the audience doesn’t “get” the joke.Inside jokesSlide21
What is the purpose of humor?
Effects on body, mind, and spiritSlide22
Actual health benefits!!
Humor can:relax an audience & make them feel welcome.
important persuasion tool (humor is pathos!)
makes troubles easier
builds bonds between people
increases immune system activity
stimulates creativity
decreases tension, anger, anxiety, and aggressionSlide23
Why are we studying humor in English class?Slide24
Humor is a reflection of our society Humor is informative
Humor is persuasiveHumor engages an audienceHumor allows us to step back and not take ourselves too seriouslySlide25
What are we gonna do with it?Slide26
We are going to make zines!
Use humor in literature to bring us togetherFind common bonds we didn’t know we hadShare and teach each otherImprove interpersonal (and interclass) relationsHave big time LOLZ!Slide27Slide28
Let’s see how humor-smart you are!
Where have you seen each of these elements of humor? a. WORDPLAY b. IRONY c. SATIRE d. SLAPSTICK e. PARODY f. HYPERBOLE g. REVERSAL
h. INCONGRUITY