Sources of Humor

1. Sources of Humor What Makes Something Funny?

2. Three Levels of Comedy • Low comedy • Based on the physical • Often includes crude or “potty” humor • Doesn’t take much thought to “get it” • Sometimes referred to as “dumb humor”—gut centered • Middle comedy • Based on situations • Needs some context to “get it” • Often related to characters involved • Sometimes called “feel-good humor”—heart centered • High comedy • Based on ideas • Regularly uses wordplay and irony • Often requires specialized knowledge to “get it” • Sometimes called “thinker humor”—brain centered

3. Incongruity • One of these things is not like the others: one little thing makes the whole thing ridiculous • A psychopathic killer at home in his kitchen, frilly floral apron proudly donned, dutifully cooking a vegan dinner for his loving family. • Another term for this sometimes in an anachronism—something that is out of time or place. This is something that “Shrek” uses a lot—putting contemporary ideas into “olden times.”

4. Irony • There are three main types: dramatic, situational, and verbal. • Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something the characters do not. This is a very common device in tragedies and romantic comedies. • Situational irony occurs when the opposite of what is expected (by the characters and/or the audience) occurs. This is not random, however. The audience (and/or the characters) should be able to go back and see why the unexpected occurred. After all, hindsight is 20/20. • Verbal ironyis when what is said has a different meaning than its usual connotation. Sarcasm is a prime example of verbal irony.

5. Random Humor • Random occurrences that have no relation to what is going on. • A frog dropping out of the sky to land in Lady Marianne’s hair, upsetting her weekly tea party? Random! Hilarious? Probably, if executed well and not overdone. • A common issue with random humor is that it can be overdone. The end result feels chaotic and weird, less than comedic. • The randomness must be balanced with reality otherwise the audience will be completely unable to relate to the piece.

6. Schadenfreude • A German word that literally means “delight at another’s misfortune.” • People comically flailing their limbs as they try not to fall on ice • Someone walking into a glass wall because they thought it was an open door • The school bully and assorted cronies being defeated by a small girl (also irony) • Slapstick comedy

7. Crude Humor • “Potty” humor • Often not appropriate for school • Can be offensive if not handled carefully

8. Play on Words • Puns • Idioms • Euphemisms • Innuendos/Double-entendre • Homophones, homonyms, synonyms

9. Exaggeration • Can exaggerate in either way (bigger or smaller) • Smaller is called “understatement.” A student towers over his teacher, but the teacher only says, “He’s a little bit taller than me.” • Caricatures and stereotype characters often rely on exaggeration

10. Parody & Satire • Both are used to poke fun at an idea or person • Parody more boldly makes fun of something (think Weird Al Yankovic)—usually low/middle comedy • Satire is generally more based on wordplay and irony—high comedy • Again, one must be careful to not be offensive in “making fun” of something