WATER BOY BAILEY

Well, it is certainly not surprising that Bailey, our resident football player, chose to write on his favorite football centered film Waterboy. Bailey described the clip with the superiority theory and the incongruity theory. I think watching the entire movie would help build the comedic value of the clip, however, the clip made the comedic parts noticible. In particular, the waterboy who is not supposed to be good a football and is made fun of by the starting quarterback in return completely sacks the once mocking starter. The funny part on top of that is the quarterback then becomes the bumbling idiot that can not speak. Personally, I chuckled but I didn't find it particularly funny just because I feel really bad for people that get made fun of for something they can't help. Bailey good job you're still a waterboy at heart.

Instant Six Pack... Lead Blog post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N6SSdBSFIg


So attached above is a short clip of something that has always made me laugh. I stumbled upon this gem a while back, while I was milling through Instagram. 11 seconds of this have made me laugh more than any clip of The Office... so... sorry class, I guess my humor is just different. Initially, I thought to myself oh my gosh this is hysterical! But thanks to this class I have gone into some deeper thought trying to figure out why on earth I found something so absurd to be so comical.

For starters, the poor fat man B in the clip desperately seems to want to get abs and can not figure out how the big buff man A accomplished just that by a simple hit to the stomach. The fact that the large man is so frustrated could be funny. To the audience, he could appear too dumb to realize the basic fact that just hitting your stomach would not gain a six pack. This would fall under, of course, the Superiority Theory, the mass majority of people know that abs come from a lot of core exercises and dedication, not just a well-placed smack. I truly think his frustration at something so basic is futile to the comedic value of this clip.

However, the one key factor of clip, and to me, the most important part of the clip is the lovely laughter of the baby. This laughter is contagious! There are two main reasons as to why I think the laughter is the selling point of the entirety of the 11 second clip. First, even the baby seems to understand that the fat man will not be able to hit himself some abs. This follows the superiority Theory because not only does the audience know that the man is stupid (thus creating the first bit of laughter), but even a small baby understands and finds the grown adult inferior even though the man is way older. Technically because the man is older he is in return supposed to be wiser and know better than the toddler. Secondly, the baby's laugh gives the audience a reason to laugh. It is pretty much the canned laughter effect that makes some tv shows so funny. Because the laughter is there already the audience feels that they are allowed to laugh and should laugh thus creating laughter from the audience even if without it there would be now. This clip is funny to me regardless of my analysis, simply because of the little baby that throws it all together.

I hope everyone finds this clip as comical as I do or else it might be a little awkward in the classroom when we discuss the blog post! hahah hope y'all enjoyed.

BOO! Accuracy in SNL Halloween Skit

Well... if anyone has quite the personality in our class it's Olivia! My good buddy Olivia decided to do her lead blog post on the SNL Girls Halloween skit. I was pretty unamused up until the point where the one girl threw up on the pizza... I think I laughed however because I experienced something rather similar last night and could help but chuckle about the situation. I truly believe the skit is accurate to real life Halloweens... I get to have the lovely experience this year... it has been rough ahhahaha haaaaaaaaaaaaa...... *cries* But regardless I believed I laughed at this skit because of superiority theory. I also laughed at the end when the actress were like I'm so glad it was a girls night, because they basically addressed the all to popular fact that no matter how bad it got they are going to end up doing it all over again. So I believe it was funny to people who have experienced something similar. I was rather unamused by everything else.

SWEET BABY JESUS...Talidaega Nights

HELLO! BLOG READERS OF THE WORLD!!! Sorry, I haven't posted in a bit it has truly been hectic in life and what not. And to professor Herron ( the man who grades my assignments), I am sorry. The next three posts will be of the blogs that I haven't responded to.

So let me begin!

Matthew, the child in my class who either has some pretty stellar socks or not, decided to do his lead blog post on the prayer scene from Talidagea Nights. In the scene, Will Ferrell plays the character of the race car driver Ricky Bobby, who at dinner, takes it upon himself to say grace. Matthew came from the angle that the scene shows how unnecessary prayer is what is making the scene funny. And to an extent, I think that observation is accurate. I mean they scene definitely pokes fun at religion. But what I think was really the deciding factor of the humor was how the wife did not oppose the absurdity of the prayer except for when she took note of how her beloved kept demeaning Jesus by only referring to Him as a sweet baby. I thought that was very interesting and that pretty much stemmed the rest of the humor throughout the scene.

Little details make a difference

My good friend Whittney made a very well done blog post on her favorite YouTuber. The post itself mentioned how the Youtuber is effective at capturing the audience's attention by making her topics "relatable to the common person. However, she mentioned n her post a very important detail. She said that the editing done by the performer helped create a faster and comical enviroment and i thought that was important.

I can not watch the office

I literally can not watch this show... I cringe every time I watch the show. And I get it its supposed to be funny. I am not sure if it is because the humor is so dry or if it is because I tend to be an empathetic person. For some reason, I can not handle awkward situations between characters or when feelings are hurt. The clip in the office is making fun of the serious process of cpr and it intertwines it with the beegies... It bothered me and that is my response

Sorry Isaac

Well, there definitely many many different types of humor in the world. For myself, in particular, I enjoy a good witty thinking comedy, usually something that doesn't place the character in an awkward or uncomfortable setting. I am a person who tends to feel bad for people in awkward situations, therefore I seriously have a hard time laughing. When I read my friend's blog post that analyzed the comedy in a clip from step brothers I, in all honesty, did not really laugh. He did a great job dissecting the types of theories however I just didn't really see what was all that funny. Although I will admit, I did laugh during the long fart that one of the characters let loose in the last job interview... So sorry Isaac that I didn't find your topic particularly funny.

https://isaacwetherillfyw.wordpress.com

"you had to be there"

What is it about personal experiences that make them sometimes unshareable in the area of comedy?

Think about it, have you ever had someone try to tell you a story that they thought was so very funny but when they tell you it wasn't funny? I really never thought of the reasons as to why a seemingly funny story could get lost in the transition from one person to another. Usually, when the story is told and there is no laughter the response of the storyteller is "oh, you would have had to be there." This statement itself sums up the reasons for the lack of comedic value. How much of comedy do we have to be able to relate to in order for it to be funny to us? Though I may not have the answers to these questions I can state that there does indeed have to be some sense of relatability to the receivers of comedy.

Harambe Response

Hello friends,

In addition to my last post, I am going hit you with another response to another friend's blog.
This blog in particular deals with the oh so controversial topic of the late gorilla Harambe. Society has been up in arms over the death or supposed killing Harambe the gorilla. But since the devastating loss there has been a mass outpouring of memes related to the incident. The big question that my fellow blogger poses is " How can we laugh at the death of an innocent animal?" Then she goes into the relief theory, explaining how we are allowed to laugh because our walls are let down. However, what if we aren't laughing at the incident its self but actually laughing at the serious reactions of Harambe lovers? The matter its self is a serious one and there are people who are using the death as a catalyst for political reform. The reason these memes are so popular in my opinion simply because of the fact they are so versatile. They cover topics such as race, parenting, gun laws and even movie quotes. Thus making the meme not only relatable but powerful.

Response to another Comedy Blogger :)

Hello Everyone! Today's blog post is going to be in response to one of my fellow comedy bloggers blogs.
https://scallananblog.wordpress.com/2016/09/09/the-unexpected/

So to get started my friend did a very good job at describing the three main theories behind comedy (relief, superiority, incongruity). I greatly appreciated the way she explained how though the superiority theory more evident than the other theories there is still evidence of the other two that she points out.
What really stuck out to me though was how she mentioned the racist presence throughout the comedic piece. I hadn't really noticed that essentially they were making fun of a specific race until she mentioned it. I just took the humor for what it was, I didn't think of it on a deeper level. I think there  is a strict difference between laughing at some and laughing with someone. If it had been a white guy doing it the scene may not have been as comical. If you sit back and think about that for a while something might click, at least I know something clicked with me. Do we feel superior to certain races? and is that why we laugh? It makes sense... It's sad. So yes, my take away from my friend's post is a little grim. However, I hope this post makes you think a bit about why you are laughing.

comment on lead blogger

I quite enjoyed your analysis of the movie. It is rather interesting how you used the superiority theory as your main basis of your dissection. I was pleased to hear your personal background in your blog. Not only did you let the readers learn a little more about yourself, but you also tied it in with the discussion. I agree with your statements on the superiority theory in relation to the movie you described.

Relief in Deadpool

There's nothing like that sensation you get when you have a burden lifted off your shoulders. The undeniable wave of relief brings a very specific and irreplicable feeling. Relief comes from different scenarios perhaps you'll experience it by getting rest after a long day of work, or maybe from sitting in your seat after barely making it to class on time. But have you thought laughter could come from relief?
Society has many standards, there are do's and don't's, things that are socially acceptable and not. With the social status quo known amongst men, there is in place according to Sigmund Freud, a mental censor. Naturally, most people want to fit in with their society so they stay with the status quo of social norms. To Freud there are times when the burden of social standards are lifted, when that happens the censor that we have to determine what is socially acceptable or not is tricked, that is when and why we laugh. It is the relief of the burden that allows us to laugh. Laughter is what is expressed when we subconsciously allow ourselves to indulge in what society would not approve of. According to Freud, this is why we find vulgar or profane.
This is why many people find Deadpool so amusing. It is very interesting how the supposed superhero can take such a serious and frankly disgusting topics such as killing and death. In the very beginning scene of Deadpool where he counts off the bullets as he kills his foes, he spews sexual innuendos at the point where most humans would be appalled by his actions. Watch this clip and take note of each opportunity that Deadpool has to make a joke where normally it wouldn't be, also take note when you laugh. The theory of relief is a very valid concept that is shown in this clip.
There's nothing like that sensation you get when you have a burden lifted off your shoulders. The undeniable wave of relief brings a very specific and irreplicable feeling. Relief comes from different scenarios perhaps you'll experience it by getting rest after a long day of work, or maybe from sitting in your seat after barely making it to class on time. But have you thought laughter could come from relief?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16-3MiK36Fc

Hamsters and Hurricanes

We all know the saying "dogs are a man's best friend," and to an extent this statement is accurate. For centuries animals have been companions to humans. The memories of childhood pets are still very present in the brains of the adult. My memory of my favorite childhood pet will too stay in my brain, though, I had a slightly more traumatic experience. 

Growing up in South Florida, I was engulfed by what I like to call Hurricane Culture. Every year without fail I would go to the store with my mother for water and food, additionally, we would go through the painstaking process of putting up our shutters.  But I honestly didn't understand that not everyone did this I thought it was the norm. Now, amongst all the preparation for the hurricanes my mom, one year, decided to clean out my beloved hamster's cage. Midnight was a black dwarf hamster that was adorable, granted she did bite me every time I touched her but that never changed my adoration for my pet. That year we had a massive category five hurricane on the way and we were going to lose power any second. So my mother, being the smart and efficient woman she is, decided it was a good idea to vacuum out the hamster cage before we lost power. As my hamster was sleeping in the lower portion of the cage my mom decided to vacuum the upper portion... before she could stop the vacuum she saw a little scurry up the hamster tube closely followed by a distinct sucking noise. The hamster was no longer in the cage but instead in the vacuum cleaner. In utter panic my mom calls for my father, "David! David! I think I sucked the hamster up in the vacuum!" "What do you mean you think? Is it in the cage?" After checking again we confirmed the hamster was not in the cage. So we opened the vacuum bag and after sifting around for Midnight we found her, not moving. Then my dad proceeds to do CPR on my prized pet. I kid you not he did actual CPR. At this point, I had heard the commotion and was completely shocked and wailing over the limp body of my hamster. All of a sudden after pressing on she little chest Midnight woke up! She lived! And from that point on she never bit me again and slowly turned gray and developed a white streak down her back.

So this memory of mine was very traumatic with a happy ending I still laugh about it. When relaying the story to peers they too laugh. But why? Why does the near death experience of my hamster make people chuckle? It certainly wasn't funny for small Sarah. There are a few theory's as to why people might laugh. If we look at the superiority theory maybe we laughed about the mistake my mother/almost hamster executioner made. Ultimately we would feel that we would never make such a mistake and we are better than her. Looking through the lens of the Incongruity theory maybe laughter was brought about by the contrast of the hamster and the vacuum cleaner. The two separate subjects are put together in such a way that would not be normal. I mean I don't think it's a normal thing to vacuum hamsters... but maybe that's just me. Lastly, when we look at the relief theory maybe we actually wanted the hamster to die and laughed because she didn't actually meet her demise. Maybe the laugh was the weight of the societal accepted way of thinking being lifted.

All in all the story of Midnight will forever live in my memory and now hopefully you can take away something humorous and decipher why it was actually funny.