Ok.... What's So Funny? © 2004

• In brief, these things can make for humour:
• The Unexpected: (something happens or someone says something unexpected).
• Something terrible happens (but nobody is really hurt).
• Something embarrassing happens.
• Someone does something silly.
• A visual juxtaposition.
• Things in Threes - (nobody knows why).
• Things that depict irony, cleverness, surprise. When something is eccentric, inappropriate or sarcastic. On occasion: 'puns'.
• Audience imagination is powerful catalyst to creating the mood. Think of something very modern that you might actually let slip and say -but would have absolutely shocked your great-grandmother! Then notice that you automatically begin to smile as you think of the reaction and what you said.

Humour is very subjective..... and it's very difficult to learn how to be funny. Even when writing this, it seemed strange to take a delightful subject such as the "Physical Etiology of Comedic Reactions" and break it down. That being said, here it goes. These are the elements of what people can find funny: Things that are unexpected or ironic. Things that are improper or irreverent. Clever connections, plays on words (but let's not talk about (yecch) puns!). Surprise. 'Slapstick'. Quirkiness. Enhancers to comedy are delivery, timing, energy, opposites, facial expressions, intonation. The 'setup' to create a joke or a funny situation is an art form of itself... and there are some specific formulas. Above all, don't try to be funny or act like you know you're funny... they must think you're an innocent. Remember too: there are exceptions to most all rules of comedy.... but some are usually safe and sure.

More notes on Comedy.
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