Techniques of Humor Involuntary Humor Physical Banana peel

Techniques of Humor

Involuntary Humor – Physical • Banana peel • Fly down • Falling down --or up-the stairs – Verbal • Slip of the tongue • Naïve remarks of children • Malapropism "It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago. . . " --Dan Quayle, former Vice President of the U. S.

How does involuntary humor work its way into literature and other professional humor? • Professional imitation of involuntary humor The actor / writer is the aggressor, while the character is the victim.

Voluntary Humor Informal • Jokes among friends • Spontaneous, witty remarks in common situations • Ridicule of self and others This is the most common type of humor. A funny comment can put a familiar situation into a new light, indicating a fair degree of competence in humorous creation. This ability, in part, is why we admire those who make us laugh.

Formal • • • Live theater Movies Sit-coms Sketch Comedy Humorous novels, stories, articles etc. • Generally the property of professional humorists. – Writers – Actors – Comedians

Techniques of Creating Humor • Surprise is a basic constituent of all humor. • In each form of humor the audience is led in a certain direction and encouraged to form certain expectations which are then turned upside down. • Why did the chicken cross the road? • Knock, knock…

Word Play • Puns / Double meaning – A doctor visits a sick woman and says quietly to the husband, “She doesn’t look good to me. ” – “You’re telling me, ” says the husband. “She hasn’t looked good to me for twenty years. ”

Duration – Even if the setup of a joke is long, the punch line is quick. – We do not usually laugh all the way through a comedy, but only at brief, climactic moments.

Structure of the Joke • Setup: – This guy sticks his head into a crowded barbershop and asks, "How long before I can get a haircut? "

• Development – The barber looks around the shop at all the customers and says, "About two hours, " and the guy leaves. – Every day, the same guy pokes his head in at the busiest time, and every day he’s told there’s a long wait and he leaves. Finally, after about two weeks of this, the barber looks over at a buddy and says, "Bill, why don’t you follow that guy and see where he goes? " – In a little while, Bill comes back into the shop, laughing hysterically. – "Well? " says the barber. "So where does he go? "

• Punch line – "To your house. "

Part Two A Cognitive Model for the Comprehension and Enjoyment of Humor

Preparation Sometimes a little warning before a joke or humorous comment can set the atmosphere. • Social Situation – When jokes are told among friends, the crowd is ready to laugh, and just about anything can seem funny.

Humorous Image • A well known comic or joker can cause people to expect oncoming humor.

Comic Appearance • A funny external appearance will cause an audience to expect laughter.

Facial Expression • Smiles, laughs, and facial contortions can cause contagious laughter.

Verbal Declaration • Any introduction to an approaching joke or humorous tale prepares an audience for humor.

• Each of these hint at laughter to come and each can compliment the other. However: • The bigger the preparation, the bigger the expectation. • If the expectation is too high, the joke can be a letdown.