1. an introduction to humor in literature and in our lives
What is humor?
an introduction to humor in literature
and in our lives

2. 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.

3. What do we think is funny? 5 rhetorical Categories…

4. 1. Hyperbole = Exaggeration for effect (OVERstatement or UNDERstatement)

5. EX. Caricature = An exaggeration of a person or archetype

6. 2. Incongruity/Reversal: “Things are not what they seem.”

7. 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.

9. 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.

10. Such as… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yc7sgN1zQM
&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL0B13E 96303FE4097

11. 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.

12. IRONY USES MOCK-SERIOUS TONE

13. SATIRE VS. PARODY More like mockery
Humorous material has a serious goal of social/political awareness or change
Often 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)

14. Satire:

15. PARODY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0- SVw5MJBU
&feature=relmfu

16. 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 metaphors
A coffin falls out of the
vehicle carrying it. The
undertaker says, “Oh, we
should rehearse that.”
GET IT? RE-HEARSE??!!
Ahahahahaha….

17. What is not funny… and why.
“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” --Oscar Wilde on homogeneous, repeated potty humor

18. Some kinds of “humor” are inappropriate in polite, intelligent company
Racist, sexist, religious, or homophobic jokes
Teasing/Bullying for ANY reason
Vulgarity for the sake of being vulgar
Repeating the same thing over and over
Clichés

19. 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.

20. 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 jokes

21. What is the purpose of humor?
Effects on body, mind, and spirit

22. 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 aggression

23. Why are we studying humor in English class?

24. Humor is a reflection of our society
Humor is informative
Humor is persuasive
Humor engages an audience
Humor allows us to step back and not take ourselves too seriously

25. What are we gonna do with it?

26. We are going to make zines!
Use humor in literature to bring us together
Find common bonds we didn’t know we had
Share and teach each other
Improve interpersonal (and interclass) relations
Have big time LOLZ!

28. 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
Wrap-up/formative assessment