Lead Blog Post #10

I have never watched The Eric Andre Show, and it is most likely due to the endangered species that is cable television. Personally, I am more of a Between Two Ferns fan, which I honestly cannot come to believe is unscripted. For specific evidence, you can refer to a classic episode in which interviews

Hillary Clinton and Justin Bieber:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrkPe-9rM1Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XSEi1jTR58

These clips will have me on the floor, yes literally, for hours. Some of the comments these types of entertainers make have to be so shocking and pack quite a punch in terms of how offensive, racey, or edgy they are in order to succeed.  Personally, I could never see myself having the wit to refer to a presidential candidate as a pantsuit-wearing space alien or literally harass a guest who happens to be one of the biggest names in current pop culture. They simply have to play dirty to get those laughs at the inappropriate thoughts every single one of us has been sharing.

Lead Blog Response #5

To be honest I am just now catching up to this blog post. When I first read it I had been pretty unaware of Melaney as an entertainer, but over the past month or so I can admit to binging pretty much all of his Netflix specials. The first bit that hooked me was his confession of his fear of 13-year-olds, who of course know how to "make fun of you, but in an accurate way".

For Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3466z8Xsf0

Most recently I watched an absolutely hilarious piece of standup titled The Elder Millenial. I practically peed my pants. Iliza quite blatantly reveals a ladies' secrets, while single-handedly roasting the patriarchy as well. (Whoop Whoop!!!) Much like Melaney, she brings tiny interactions that create just enough self-deprecating senses of humor that regularly connect us to a group whether it be a gender, sexuality, age, or race.

For example:

Iliza - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO9qW20H0uM

Trevor Noah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig_OuhBtUfs

Blog Post #11

After discovering the topic of this blog, I was e s t a t i c. I am a bit of an Elf enthusiast, it is even Andreassi family tradition to watch that movie on Black Friday and Christmas Eve, marking the start and end of the Christmas season. I relate to Buddy quite a bit, I share an affinity towards sugary desserts, activities such as bouncing on beds, and tend to go quite overboard with decorating. What I love about this movie so much is how much it makes me feel like a kid again. Despite in obvious superiority, Buddy is a beloved character whose energy is able to continually captivate audiences of all ages. 

Thought: in my lifetime at least I cannot characterize the new titling of a Christmas movie as a "classic". Everything was just there when I was at the age of the viewers. Since then has there been any really good new ones? What do you think gives something that classic, timeless quality that some treasured movies or series possess?

Copy and Paste if you dare: https://cv-insight.com/en/facebook/video_ranking/18565556 

Lead Blog Response #9

Friends "The One in Vegas: Part 1"

1) Overall Perceived Funniness: 8
2) Overall Reported Enjoyment: 5
3) Types of Humor Evident in the Episode:

• Putdown
• Slapstick
• Sarcasm
• Joking Socially
• Incongruity 
• People doing stupid things
• Naughty Humor

The Office "The Dundies"

1) Overall Perceived Funniness: 10

2) Overall Reported Enjoyment: 10

3) Types of Humor Evident in the Episode:

• Putdown Humor
• Slapstick 
• Satire
• Sarcasm
• Joking socially 
• Dark humor
• Naughty humor 
• Parody

Lead Blog Response #8

I am not going to lie, that clip made me a bit uncomfortable. I am not too sure if I am very intrigued or frightened. This paradox is what I am coming to realize is a key characteristic of memes, as addressed in the assigned reading article earlier this week in class. The awkward feeling aroused by looking at one of my childhood toys voiced over by a man making a stereotypical and even offensive female tone dropping words of profanity left and right is just uncomfortable enough to stir some laughter. The world of memes has opened up a whole new realm for a source of creativity that results in a globally shared network of humor. Maybe these millennials are on to something. . .

Lead Blog Response #7

Despite the general understanding that humor is based on jokes that are predominantly aimed to be light of heart and hold little value, humor actually holds quite a bit of weight in the human mind. I did some searching a little bit out of my comfort zone shifting from my interest in the brain and psychology to the mind and philosophy.  With some research (gold worthy and peer edited, if you ask me) I was able to happen upon an interesting blog post by Nicole Force M.A. She provides a chemical explanation of the human body's response to laughter resulting in the release of serotonin and endorphins which happens to be the effects of many popular antidepressant drugs. 

There is the possibility to "self-medicate" to an extent by exposing the mind to experiences that hold comedic value or create a level of enjoyment. This forced, yet natural boost in serotonin and endorphins enhances their ability to cope with "overwhelming emotion and taking control of a situation." If you ask me, this makes the ability to have a sense of humor a superpower that obviously has the power to sway the political views of an entire nation. What do you think this reveals about popular comedians or even the regular class clown? Comedians are willing to break boundaries and bring up what the average person tries to conceal (shoutout to the theory of incongruity). These taboo topics are then minimized and laughed at, the comedian has taken control and shed some light on a previously displeasing topic. 

Lead Blog Response #6

When it comes to being a fan of The Office, I can wholeheartedly agree with the statement that The Office is if not THE best, one of THE best television comedies to grace this world. Sorry Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, and Friends fans... A balance between all of the different types of humor is achieved through the larger than life characterization of each member of the Dunder Mifflin Team and those encountered along the way. Michael takes care of the dirty humor, racy jokes, and the occasional dad joke. The superiority theory has the ability to apply to a plethora of characters ranging from Erin to Andy, Dwight, Kevin, and Michael of course. Being a long-term viewer of the show I am very intrigued by the statement that this show's success was highly dependent on the political, social, and economic environment of the time. Humor is not something that I would initially associate with changing over time, but after some reflection, it seems more than plausible. With the inclined political climate of today's time jokes that were freely tossed around could upset audiences, but since it was directed and produced before these events that still makes it enjoyable to viewers today. I guess timing really is everything. Thankfully The Office was produced early enough that it can still crack the smiles of a wide span of ages, and be a general crowd pleaser today.

Lead Blog Response #3

One of the most important aspects of humor that we have learned about is the necessity of being globally accepted and relatable. As humans we all share those seemingly stupid habits, instances, and mistakes that will leave us babbling with laughter whether it be missing that bottom step of the staircase, waving at someone that definitely wasn't referring to you, or as in the clip shared, feeling like the human embodiment of death on a treadmill after about 30 seconds. I fully and completely see where you are coming from when you relate this humor to the superiority theory, but if these experiences are shared by all of us who is the superior one? I believe that these humbling and usually embarrassing instances are what put all human beings in the same playing field, I've been there, you've been there, and believe it or not Beyonce has too. 

Literal Laughter Medicine

As an intended neuroscience major and psychology enthusiast I am going to take a different approach on this blog post. Recently there has been a growing interest in the clinical uses of humor and laughter. In application to psychotherapy, humor is used to alleviate anxiety, pressure, increase feelings of positivity and motivation, and can aid in creating bonds between doctors and their patients. The man, Freud himself, attributed comedy to being a form of catharsis for the human conscious, allowing topics that we tend to dodge around to be addressed head-on by biting sarcasm and light fluffy humor.

Here are some exercises and activities that I discovered:

The "I Don't Know Why I am Laughing" Trick
Any type of laughter can be good laughter, even if it is forced. Individuals may stand in front of a mirror or choose to do this easy exercise in a group. As the title suggests, participants plaster a cheesy grin on their faces, not stimulated by a given event or joke, and just laugh. Circulation in the body will temporarily increase, releasing stress that is weighing the body down both consciously and unconsciously.

Open Ended Cartoons
Much like inkblot tests, therapists reveal a set of cartoons to their patients. These cartoons, specifically chosen for each individual patient is meant to somehow relate to a struggle that the patient is currently experiencing, without being blunt. At the end of the session, the images are discussed and if perceived correctly the patient is able to use this form of therapy to put their problems in perspective, and eventually draw them to the conclusion to why they cannot make light out of their own predicaments.

Lead Blog Response #2

Despite not being a regular Seinfeld fan myself, my family, friends, and obviously classmates express a love for this comedy classic. In my last blog, I dissected the characters of the sitcom Friends, breaking down the traits that audiences so adore. After reading Jake's blog I plan on examining why we find the crude humor that Seinfeld provides us with so hilarious.

"We hypothesize that humor is elicited by benign violations and show that moral violations that simultaneously seem benign elicit laughter and amusement in addition to disgust."

Humor gives us a chance to get away saying things that should definitely not be said. In our conscious, we are able to filter what comes out of our mouths. The lack of filter possessed by our leading character Jerry is what makes him so appealing. Inconsiderate, judgemental, and plainly rude statements and actions have the ability to be funny, following the Incongruity Theory and Benign's Violation Theory. 

Being mean does not guarantee laughter though. An unspoken line exists that separates what is acceptable and what is a step too far.

Lead Blog Response #1

The television classic, Friends, is a crowd-pleasing comedy that people of all ages continue to enjoy. The show itself does not have a continuous plot, but its eclectic collection of characters managed to keep it going for a staggering 236 episodes. In Alex's blog, she applied our newfound knowledge of the theories of humor and comedy to the sitcom while also pointing out individuals who present them. For this blog, I plan to continue exploring the characters individually and attempt to relate them to Freud's theories of comedy.

Joey Tribbiani 

- "little kid" humor 

- victim of much superiority humor

Joey, in my opinion, is one of if not the most laughable character. He fulfills the comical archetype of the attractive actor without any brain cells to spare. The other characters enforce their mental superiority over him regularly while the audience follows his personal antics, sexual escapades, and career.

Chandler Bing

- sarcasm

- over-inflated 

Chandler has never been my favorite character. In comparison to the rest, I find him to be one of the more regular characters. This makes him very relatable to the audience and allows us to channel our own lives while watching him. Out of the theories of comedy, I would most associate Chandler with the relief theory because of the light he brings to inconveniences and instances we can all relate to.

Phoebe Buffay

- incongruity theory to a tee

- airheaded nature

Now onto Phoebe, my personal favorite, and the character I most identify with. Naming another character like Phoebe is near impossible, and that is simply what makes her so great. Her extreme individuality and contrast to those around her shed light and laughter on any scene she is in. 

Rachel Green

- "princess" character 

- victim of superiority theory and her own stupidity 

Rachel, probably the most problematic of the bunch. She is introduced to the audience as a flighty girl led by her heart, not her heart. Like Chandler, Rachel is a pretty run of the mill character whose mistakes and triumphs we cannot help but follow and link to our own experiences.

Ross Geller

- personality applies him to the incongruity theory

-nerdy nature and bad luck makes him an easy target for superiority humor 

Unlike the rest of our male characters, Ross Geller appeals to the more sensitive and intellectual side of the male psyche. His quirks and ticks are what make him the lovable and humorous character we know him as.

Monica Geller

- extreme personality features

- another case of incongruity theory

Monica, the last of our characters is most well known for her OCD tendencies and controlling nature. The struggles that Monica faces tend to be self-conflicted, leaving the audience to laugh at her and the hoops she must jump through and the challenges she must overcome.

Theories of Humor

As children and even babies, human beings have a natural recognition of things that are humorous. People making ridiculous faces, strangers' inconveniences, and an out of place sounds or actions are elementary examples of this. But do we know where this began? Comedians, writers, and philosophers have put together a list of the theories of humor, my personal favorite being the Relief Theory.

I consider myself an optimist for sure and hearing comedy be linked to the failures of others was not the most comforting thing. Humor and comedy are a release, a method of letting out the unspoken thoughts, stressors, and second guesses out. Although I am definitely guilty of chuckling at the misfortunes of those around me I do not think that humor is based on the superiority people believe they hold over one another. 

Wrong Place Wrong Time

A picture is worth a thousand words and sometimes those words can be pretty damn funny.

Through my Instagram browsing, I happened upon the account @shusaku1977. The owner of this account is a Japanese artist who combines images from movies, media, art, and other sources to create an unlikely combination of objects or characters. 

Can you spell incongruity theories? These images bring together conflicting, inappropriate, and unrelated topics and that is what makes it funny. We expect the image to be completed in the appropriate way, keeping within the context. Disney princesses and middle fingers are not things that are commonly associated. Princesses are characterized as poised, graceful, and feminine while the action of "flipping the bird" is crude, rude, and simply distasteful. 

Hit me up on the gram @pla_333