Structure Flashcards
TAKE-OFF *
Take-off is an outrageous reaction (punchline) to the intended meaning
of a cliche - take-off example:
“small world, unless you have to clean it” (opposite of simple truth - reaction to unintended meaning of idiom)
SIMPLE TRUTH *
Simple Truth is a humorous reaction to the unintended meaning of an idiom - idioms do not have literal meaning and interpreting them as if they do is a good setup for humor - simple truth examples:
“cats have nine lives - makes them
ideal for experimentation”
“when you shoot a mime - should you
use a silencer?”
(opposite of take-off, intended meaning)
REFORMED CLICHE *
Altering a cliche to cleverly change its point of view and meaning -
reformed cliche examples:
“In the beginning man created God”
“Immigration is the sincerest form of flattery”
“In this country you are guilty until proven wealthy”
REVERSE *
Setup is a complete little story that is realistic and logical and then adding a logical if not realistic contradictory twist that changes (switches) the audience’s point of view - must contain a clue in
the setup for backward reinterpretation - structural misdirection works because we are wired for logical processing - sets us up to be surprised by the twist - example:
“if we knew grandkids were so much fun, we would have had them first”
TRIPLES *
Using three sequential comments, categories or examples to generate
and build anticipation and tension -
triples example:
my wife and I don’t get along, I take
my meals separately, I take separate vacations, I sleep in a separate bedroom, I’m doing everything I can do to keep this marriage together”
“you are what you eat - I’m fast, cheap and easy”
(flexible structure - variety of ways to create triples)
UNDERSTATED EXAGGERATION *
There are two types of exaggeration - overstatement and understatement - understatement is small exaggeration and overstatement is a big stretch -
both use logical premise and logical stretching to achieve equal balance between realism and exaggeration - realism-understatement example:
what is the handicapped parking
situation at the Special Olympics?
Still just the 2 spaces?”
OVERSTATED EXAGGERATION *
There are two types of exaggeration - overstatement and understatement - understatement is small exaggeration and overstatement is a big stretch -
both use a logical premise and logical stretching to achieve equal balance between realism and exaggeration -
realism-overstatement example:
“I like rice. rice is great when you are hungry and you want two thousand
of something”
SHOCKING EXAGGERATION *
Shock is a form of comedic surprise that generates laughter - vulgarity and taboo subjects works with standup, but not so much in mixed company, but there are almost always clean substitutes -
Realism-shock example:
I’m in a restaurant and I’m eating and someone says, mind if I smoke?
and I say, uh no, do you mind if I fart?
SARCASM + IRONY *
Saying one thing and obviously meaning something else - indirect form of insult or complaint, using irony to soften the blow
Example - irony / sarcasm:
DOUBLE ENTENDRE *
Double Meaning - one meaning is conventional and second one is spicy - setup joke with conventional meaning and then slip in the second meaning -
POW - double entendre example:
“we were so poor, if I wasn’t a boy,
I wouldn’t have had anything to play with”
“she is so hot (looking) even my tongue
is hard”
HOMONYMS *
using words with similar sounds and different meanings to generate funny viewpoints - homonyms have multiple close relatives however similar sounds and different meanings is the key idea
example - homonym:
OXYMORON / REDUNDANCY *
oxymorons are multiple incongruous words with clashing literal and figurative meanings that are often humorous
examples: oxymoron
“vacuuming sucks”
“dwarf shortage”
“criminal lawyer”- is that redundant?
“civil war”
POW - FUNNY WORDS
words with “K” sound funny -
cupcake, cookie, chicken, pickle, kitten, kiss, kumquat, turkey, duck, car keys - usually used in middle of joke,
often in groups - example:
“the best things in life are free,
so how many kittens would you like?”
POW - ANTONYM / SYNONYM
“tilling the soil” in search of arrowheads - sharp words for humorous alternative interpretations
TOPPER (keep it rolling)
Comedic tactic that involves a series of punchlines, each related to the previous one, especially used when the audience is on a roll
