More+Filled+Out

**Bathos** "an abrupt transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect" Example: Shy Ronnie (Language and sexual content) [] While Rihanna is present during the heist, Ronnie is incredibly shy, mumbling embarrassingly when Rihanna asks him to speak. When she leaves, however, he instantly becomes outspoken and quite inappropriate. The abrupt change from immense shyness to being incredibly bold creates humor as viewers contrast the outspoken Ronnie to the shy one in their heads.

"using a word with more than one meaning in a specific context" Example: "I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me." The double meaning of "hit" being understanding and physical force serves as both definitions in this context, as understanding of why the ball is growing might "hit" someone at the same time that the ball physically "hits" them. By using the word "hit" which makes sense in both definitions of the word in this context, the joke uses a play off the double meaning of the word in order to create humor.
 * Pun**

"When a statement could have more than one meaning, and one may be inappropriate" Example: (Sexual illusions) [] In every situation depicted in the video, Mike Rowe spins the situation into a dirty illusion. By applying sexual references to common, boring situations, Rowe creates humor for more mature audiences who understand his reference. A low level, slap-stick humor is created which, while not very intellectually stimulation, appeals to a wide variety of audiences, enticing people from various backgrounds to watch the show for its humor.
 * Double Entendre**

**Understatement** “When the author does not explain or relay the full magnitude of a situation” //Example:// [] //Explanation:// The comic strip, Rhymes with Orange, creates light-hearted humor in “The Incident” through making an understatement. The concept that a bird would need brakes to begin with, let alone need to have them checked is simply absurd. However, at this point, the poor bird has a few more concerns than simply a more abstract future need to “get the brakes checked.” The mere force required for the bird to dive through the bird feeder, displacing all the seed between the two perches is significant and the bird has no real ability to pull itself out of the feeder. Another tongue-in-cheek reference to driving is made in the side bar where the bird’s thought bubble reads “There go my insurance premiums.”

**Deviation** “To go off topic or off a path” **Generalization** “A basic group of ideas, concepts, information” //Example:// “If the Founding Fathers knew how liberal Americans would abuse our legal system, I believe they would have at least added some kind of amendment to the Constitution that would force all defense lawyers to have to lodge their clients at their homes during the judicial process. If defense lawyers are going to make a living releasing these boneheads on society, the least they can do is get a taste of what they’re inflicting on the rest of us when they find themselves being sued by the same societal leeches for being served coffee that was too hot, eggs that were too cold, and orange juice that was too pulpy.” Brad Stine from //Live from Middle America: Rants from a Red State Comedian// //Explanation:// Knowing his audience of Conservatives who are tired of being the butt of nearly every comedian’s jokes, comedian Brad Stine both generalizes liberals as well as deviates from the topic of the Constitution in order to continue his commentary. As a reaction to the over-prominence of liberal comedians making a living off of slamming Conservatives, Brad Stine makes the liberal party a running joke throughout his sarcastic satirist book, joking blaming liberals for everything that is wrong with America. Of course the liberal party is not necessarily at fault for all that he blames them for: “wussification of America,” “political correctness,” “boys’ bike frames.” However, by creating a definite body of people to which he can point his political humor, he plays off the stereotype. At the end of the paragraph, Stine deviates from the Constitution to the recent notoriously absurd cases that have come before American courts as he continues his rant on “what is wrong with America:” a topic that is already humorous, but by jumping topics and ranting, Stine draws increased attention to its absurdity.

**Parody** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">" The use of common and respected structures that contain mocking or uncommon topics" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Example:// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The old movie "Airplane" is classified as a parody, which mocks and taunts other high action airplane movies. The actors in the movie do not laugh, but do silly things in a serious matter in order for the audience to realize the joke that makes fun of other movies. This example is hilarious because many of the events that happen in the film are highly exaggerated which creates a comical statement. The comically mocking tone causes the audience to really think about how over-dramatic some high-action airplane films are. This is the type of film that uses violence and ridicule in order to create dark humor and poke fun at other serious films.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Caricature** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">" When one aspect of a person's personality is exaggerated" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Example:// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This caricature comically depicting 'Dr. House' on the tv series 'House' evokes his long face rather exaggerated in order to create a humorous portrayal of this character. 'Dr. House' is mocked in a way for his long face and big ears.The caricature taunts and pokes fun at the unique features of his face influencing the audience to laugh at their own unusual features as well, instead of taking them as seriously ugly characterisitics. This picture uses exaggeration, which is a humorous technique since the normal is portrayed as quite unusal and huge.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Inherently Funny Words** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**"**Words that simply make people laugh" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Example:// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">SNIRT-A Minnesota word for the mixing of snow and dirt on the side of the road. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The word 'snirt' is humorous simply based on the fact that is a combination of the words dirt and snow which results in a funny sounding word. It is a simple kind of humor that makes only the majority of people laugh due to the comical sound. It is funny since its a combination of words and also because it is an unusual word. It is not every day that you will hear someone say," Hey did you see that pile of snirt earlier?" The word 'snirt' causes audiences to smirk and basically mock the English language by making up a word from two other English words. 'Snirt' also cause audiences to find the simple things in life humorous, such as a very dirty and snowy road.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Riddles** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">" A puzzling statement or question" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Example:// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What gets whiter the dirtier it gets? >> A Chalkboard <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This riddle is somewhat ironic and surprising, since most things do not get whiter as they get dirtier. The fact that it is ironic and surprising makes it humorous, even though it is not quite laugh out loud humorous. This example makes the audience think before they laugh, which is usually different in other comical situations such as a joke or parody in which audiences laugh and then think about it for 10 minutes.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Distortion** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Alteration of shape, concept, person, time" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Example:// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L2fsubA2-c <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Simpsons television show is a classic example of distortion in many aspects. The overall setting, in Springfield, distorts the normal urban life into a cartoon version while all the citizens resemble cartoon characters as well, but function as normal human beings do in reality. In the clip of the Mapple Store, the episode alters the common reference to Apple products, by first renaming the company and products, but by turning the store again into a cartoon version. People can easily recognize the reference to the Apple company, but the presentation in the episode alters the realistic concept of iPods, iPads, etc...

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Absurdity** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**"**Something that is clearly illogical and obviously wrong" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Example//: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX82ptVWDy4 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the episode of Scrubs, the doctor, JD, must tell a family that their grandfather passed away; however, he is dressed in a clown suit, along with a painted face, red nose, and a spinning tie. People usually associate doctors as sophisticated members of society and professional in the workplace, but JD confronts the family in a clown suit, rather than a clown suit. He is bearing bad news, awful news actually, of the grandfather passing away while clowns are known for cracking jokes and being able to make people laugh. The entire situation is absurd in the manner that a doctor telling a family of a death should not tell them while wearing a clown suit, as a tie whirls around during a serious issue. The reader ultimately laughs, since it challenges the accepted perception of doctors and places them into a public life, and the clown adds effect since most people find clowns humorous in general.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Surprise** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"When something is unexpected, and action or ending" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Example:// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LptzAD5aYo <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The clip starts with a serene, relaxing environment interrupted by the doorbell...and then an instantaneous punch into the testicular region of the man. The audience is clearly not expecting the ending based on the setting setup at the beginning of the scene, and the man is almost just as surprised by the ending. Many audiences of humor respond well to physical pain of another human, hinting reality shows such as Scarred, and especially respond to a man being hit in the testicles. The audience is left with the surprise ending, and a memorable quote, "you know why" which adds effect to the humor since it leaves the man with no explanation to the action and the woman who inflicted the pain clearly obtains much joy out of the answer. The quote resides with the audience, and the scene of being punched in the testes is quickly associated with it.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Inversion** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"When characters or concepts are shift positions or power of identification" <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">//Example// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A play "A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Forum" by Stephan Sondheim <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The play accurately portrays the humor technique because the play depicts a young slave trying to earn his freedom by helping his master woo the girl next door. Instead of the master controlling the slave, the slave obtains the power in the situation as he controls the next movements of the master in his attempt to win the love of the young girl. Throughout the play, many satirical comments are made about the social class, as well as, puns, slamming doors, and mistaken identities. The characters provide much of the humor through the dialogue embedded within the script. The audience watching the play resides with the comments about society, which make them laugh and question the norms of society in a more in depth manner as well. "A Funny Thing Happened on the way to Forum" serves as a double standard: making the audience laugh at the jokes and comments about situations that exist in society, while forcing them to think of the play much harder and question the comments and the butt of the joke much longer after the play ends.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**Incongruity** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">“When something is out of place or inappropriate behavior” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Example: Minny’s Special Pie in “The Help” [] <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Explanation: In the early 1960’s of Jackson, Mississippi, black maids, commonly known as “the Help”, were suppose to be obedient and hard working to their white employers. Any sort of inappropriate behavior or disobedience would result in termination. Minny, the black maid in the clip, decides to seek revenge at her old employer¸ Miss Hilly, by adding a special ingredient in her chocolate pie. The tone of the piece is comical insulting. The clip is hilarious for it reveals to the audience the secret ingredient that Minny has added into her pie by illustrating her odd behavior and her out of place characteristics for the other maids.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**Hyperbole** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">“Very exaggerated statements, obvious sarcasm” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Example: Andrea's Corn Chowder in “The Devil Wears Prada” [|http://www.hulu.com/watch/12450/the-devil-wears-prada-corn-chowder#s-p1-so-i0] <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Explanation: Andrea Sachs (Andy) earned one of the greatest jobs in the world, a job that a million girls would kill for which is the assistant to Miranda Priestly; the editor in chief of fashion magazine //Runway//. Unfortunately Andrea is not skinny, beautiful, nor fashionable like the other employees, so she does not quite fit in with the others. Andy’s witty co-worker, Nigel, recognizes her different characteristics and ridicules her through obvious sarcasm in a playful, but belittling manor. Nigel creates the overall tone to be haughty satire that poor Andy must endure his everlasting hyperbole after hyperbole. The scene is mockingly funny for the audience can immediately recognize that Nigel is degrading Andre in a playful sarcastic way.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">**Oxymoron** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">“When two words with contrasting ideas are put together to make a new word” <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Example: Clean Diesel Volkswagen []

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Explanation: To many, the word “diesel” sounds utterly dirty. Diesel has earned the reputation of producing gigantic fumes of black¸ ominous smock and consisting of dark sludge. The German car company Volkswagen has been known to create diesel driven vehicles. To promote their new 21st century clean diesel run vehicles, the persuasive people of VW decide to implement oxymoron after oxymoron in their commercial. The commercial gives numerous examples of oxymorons before revealing to the audience their oxymoron which just so happens to be their new and improved diesel friendly car. The oxymorons utilized in the commercial may not drive the viewer to hysterical laughs, but to some degree, the oxymoron technique sparks humor in the audience in order for them to be intrigued and amused at this new car. The tone of the piece is humorously witty for it impresses and propels the audience to buy their oxymoron of a car.