Comedy & Satire:Comedy & Satire:

How do they do it?How do they do it?

HyperboleHyperbole An exaggeration of the truth for comedic effect.An exaggeration of the truth for comedic effect. In Ron White’s standup show, In Ron White’s standup show, They Call me Tater They Call me Tater

SaladSalad, he does a bit in which he discusses his , he does a bit in which he discusses his wife’s lack of household abilities. He tells a story wife’s lack of household abilities. He tells a story of her claiming that the dryer was broken. He of her claiming that the dryer was broken. He asked her if she cleaned the lint filter. Greeted asked her if she cleaned the lint filter. Greeted with a puzzled look, he offered to check it himself. with a puzzled look, he offered to check it himself. As he was checking the lint filter, she asked if he As he was checking the lint filter, she asked if he found anything. He responded, “Well, you’ve only found anything. He responded, “Well, you’ve only got a quilt in here.”got a quilt in here.”

Of course, the lint filter couldn’t collect the mass of Of course, the lint filter couldn’t collect the mass of a quilt, so he is exaggerating, but the hyperbole a quilt, so he is exaggerating, but the hyperbole makes the story funny and gives it a bit of a makes the story funny and gives it a bit of a surprise ending.surprise ending.

Comic Metaphor or SimileComic Metaphor or Simile A comparison that is comedic.A comparison that is comedic. Chris Rock used a comic simile/metaphor in his Chris Rock used a comic simile/metaphor in his

Bigger and Blacker Bigger and Blacker tour when he compared a tour when he compared a large woman’s fat coming out of her shoe to rising, large woman’s fat coming out of her shoe to rising, baking bread.baking bread.

Larry the Cable Guy uses comic similes a lot: Larry the Cable Guy uses comic similes a lot: – ““I disappeared like a set of rims at a Puff Daddy I disappeared like a set of rims at a Puff Daddy

concert.”concert.”– ““One woman was in labor for 39 hours before they One woman was in labor for 39 hours before they

finally decided to do a C-section. That would be like finally decided to do a C-section. That would be like running a marathon and then finding out you could have running a marathon and then finding out you could have used a golf cart.”used a golf cart.”

– ““I was madder than a legless Ethiopian watching a I was madder than a legless Ethiopian watching a donut roll down a hill.”donut roll down a hill.”

UnderstatementUnderstatement

An ironic expression in which something of An ironic expression in which something of importance is emphasized by being spoken importance is emphasized by being spoken of as thought it were not important.of as thought it were not important.

Example: “He was sort of dead . . . I think.”Example: “He was sort of dead . . . I think.”

IronyIrony Irony in comedy involves statements that are made that Irony in comedy involves statements that are made that

imply their opposite. Often, irony is the difference imply their opposite. Often, irony is the difference between appearance and reality. between appearance and reality.

To some extent, Larry the Cable Guy’s prayers could be To some extent, Larry the Cable Guy’s prayers could be considered ironic. Anytime he says something really considered ironic. Anytime he says something really offensive, he says, “Oh, that ain’t right. Lord, I apologize offensive, he says, “Oh, that ain’t right. Lord, I apologize for that right there. Be with the starving pigmies in down for that right there. Be with the starving pigmies in down there in New Guinea.” This is ironic because you as a there in New Guinea.” This is ironic because you as a viewer know that his prayer isn’t sincere because the viewer know that his prayer isn’t sincere because the jokes are planned and repeated at each show. The jokes are planned and repeated at each show. The appearance here is that Larry is religious; the reality is appearance here is that Larry is religious; the reality is that he is vulgar and offensive.that he is vulgar and offensive.

The opening of Bill Cosby’s special focuses on people The opening of Bill Cosby’s special focuses on people who drink and do drugs. He points out the irony of who drink and do drugs. He points out the irony of people drinking or smoking marijuana to have a good people drinking or smoking marijuana to have a good time. This is ironic because they want to have a good time. This is ironic because they want to have a good time, but usually end up either paranoid from the drugs time, but usually end up either paranoid from the drugs or sick from the alcohol. The appearance here is that or sick from the alcohol. The appearance here is that drinking is fun and unpredictable. The reality is that it is drinking is fun and unpredictable. The reality is that it is harmful and bad for your body, as evidenced by vomiting harmful and bad for your body, as evidenced by vomiting and paranoia. and paranoia.

SarcasmSarcasm

The act of saying one thing, but meaning the The act of saying one thing, but meaning the complete opposite.complete opposite.

If you fail to do your homework, and I say, If you fail to do your homework, and I say, “Oh, that’s really smart,” I am being “Oh, that’s really smart,” I am being sarcastic because I am actually meaning to sarcastic because I am actually meaning to say that it was dumb to not do your say that it was dumb to not do your homework.homework.

Of course, comedy is not limited to Of course, comedy is not limited to these items. What else contributes these items. What else contributes

to a comedian’s humor?to a comedian’s humor?

Physical HumorPhysical Humor Impressions (also known as parody)Impressions (also known as parody) Exploitation of stereotypesExploitation of stereotypes ““Voices”Voices” Sound effectsSound effects Tone of VoiceTone of Voice TimingTiming

SatireSatire Humorous writing or speech that is intended to point out Humorous writing or speech that is intended to point out

errors, falsehoods, foibles, or failing. It is done for the errors, falsehoods, foibles, or failing. It is done for the purpose of reforming human behavior or human institutions. purpose of reforming human behavior or human institutions.

In World Literature, you will read a satire called “A Modest In World Literature, you will read a satire called “A Modest Proposal” (from the 19Proposal” (from the 19thth century) in which the author century) in which the author suggests solving the Great Potato Famine in Ireland by suggests solving the Great Potato Famine in Ireland by feeding the Irish with their young children. Of course, he is feeding the Irish with their young children. Of course, he is not serious about doing this, but his point in making the not serious about doing this, but his point in making the absurd suggestion was to insult the inaction of England to absurd suggestion was to insult the inaction of England to aid the starving Irish.aid the starving Irish.

At the opening of Chris Rock’s At the opening of Chris Rock’s Bigger and BlackerBigger and Blacker standup, standup, Rock rants about the failure of contemporary parents to Rock rants about the failure of contemporary parents to raise their kids properly. raise their kids properly.

Satire can be done explicitly or subtly. Rock’s satire is Satire can be done explicitly or subtly. Rock’s satire is explicit; he states the problem over and over; however Bill explicit; he states the problem over and over; however Bill Cosby’s satire about people who slaughter themselves with Cosby’s satire about people who slaughter themselves with drinking is done through impressions of those people. drinking is done through impressions of those people.

Your AssignmentYour Assignment

You will watch a 105-minute You will watch a 105-minute Bill Cosby Bill Cosby special over the special over the next two class periods.next two class periods.

As you watch, look for examples of each of the comedic As you watch, look for examples of each of the comedic elements you just learned about. elements you just learned about.

Record these examples in “quotation marks” in the chart I Record these examples in “quotation marks” in the chart I have distributed to you. have distributed to you.

Cosby is known for his stories, so his jokes and techniques Cosby is known for his stories, so his jokes and techniques are embedded in those.are embedded in those.

Cosby is a great artist of subtle satire. Be sure to ask Cosby is a great artist of subtle satire. Be sure to ask yourself what different people or behaviors he is satirizing yourself what different people or behaviors he is satirizing as you watch. as you watch.

Record as many examples as you can.Record as many examples as you can. The sheet will be collected as soon as the film ends.The sheet will be collected as soon as the film ends.