7-7:10pm: Has anyone laughed lately? At a certain point, don’t you just have to laugh? And notice, this is a QUESTION. Not a judgment or statement.
7:10-7:30pm: Let’s talk about humor in Composition. How is humor part of composition? How can humor be literature? What is the value to humor? Has anyone heard of David Sedaris? If so, what do you know?
7:30-7:50pm: Analyzing humor, comedy, anything that makes us laugh. What does it do to the writing? Just make it entertaining, or something else?
7:50-8pm: Finding funny in everything…. Can it be done?
8-8:20pm: Humor in our lives, in our families, in some of the dumb stuff we do…. What do you think? Me, I have to laugh at myself when I f/ck up, otherwise it poisons my mood and vibe.
8:20-8:40: David Sedaris…. Someone who writes differently. In a diary then to a formal essay. He teaches us not just about comedy, but about writing an essay. To enjoy the liberated writing in a diary or journal first, then organize. To make writing yours!
8:40-8:50: Close…. What do you have in your notes/on tonight’s page?
ASSIGNMENT: 1, Research David Sedaris. 2, type and EMAIL ME a 2-page reaction to your findings on Sedaris…. What do you think of him? What is he like? What sources did you find useful? (HINT: Watch his videos on YouTube, to start!). 3, write out your goals for this semester, not just for this class but all-encompassing, and write how you plan to satisfy them. Be prepared to discuss next meeting.
Also, I will be starting my Zoom office hours next week, by appointment. Stay tuned!
#professormikey 
I think humor can show the authors personality depending on the type of humor. It also can show things about characters in a book if they use humor to hide their problems. When I think of humor in a book I think of Catch 22. That book was so funny but became so dark and the humor the characters used told you a lot about them and how they coped with their situation. I think humor can also give a book character.
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His/her personality, as well as how they understand the world around them!
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Humor in composition, are comedy shows. They are set. up in a way to tell a story of the comedians life. Example Gabriel Iglesias is a great story teller!
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Yes! Gabriel Iglesias is an excellent story teller. He sets up his stories and jokes in a way that he can paint a picture! He is a really wonderful comedian.
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He is!! His awesome voices help too! haha
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My favorite type of humor in literature is dialogue because when i’m reading a conversation between characters I can choose what tone they are saying it in my head so even though they might be saying something that isn’t funny it sounds funny when i’m reading it.
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Humor and its value… thoughts?
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Anyone looked into Sedaris?
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Humor in literature can always be found when you relate an anecdote which has some humor, or even a way that you write something in a funny matter, after all, you can find humor on anything.
In regards with what’s the value of humor, I believe that the value of humor lies in how well you can make the other person feel because it can make them forget, even for a second, something that they be struggling lately
I haven’t hear about David Sedaris at all:(
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Anecdote.. interesting.
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Humor in composition is essential. People’s humor is what makes them unique and adding it to your work helps enhance your voice. I enjoy reading/analyzing people’s humor.
P.S. no need to drop me! Your comment made me chuckle lol
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You’re awesome. Cheers.
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Not exactly sure how to explain how exactly I see humor in composition, but I suppose find it to be a way to bring something intense, dark, or even scary at a lower, more comfortable place? Humor is fun and makes you feel like in a sense, everything is okay.
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Humor is an important part of our everyday interactions such as when we’re trying to make conversation. In composition, humor can also engage the reader by taking them someplace they don’t expect. I have not heard of Davis Sedaris but I am excited to learn about him.
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You’ll be surprised by his style of humor, I think… in a good way.
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I have not heard of David Sedaris.
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Now you have! You’re welcome.
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What is your full name, again? Sorry!!
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I heard David Sedaris was a humorist. Not quite sure what that means though. Also saw him on television once.
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Humor is invaluable! It is something that can help people in the darkest of times. A lot of comedians have said that in their darkest times they turned to comedy, which is saying a lot.
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Yes. It’s like a kind of magic, and medicine.
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Humor can make the writing to be remembered, especially to me I always remember the funny things I read everywhere I go.
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Haven’t heard of David Sedaris but would definitely like get to know about him!
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Watch some YouTube videos, to start…
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Will do!
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🙂
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I just watched a quick 2 minute youtube video on him and he said he writes in his journal everyday and will rewrite the same thing 12-18 times. At first I thought that was a little excessive but then I thought about it and if you write about a goal that many times a day and how you are going to obtain it or different ways to accomplish your task, than you will be prepared for any situation or scenarios you may face when you begin to take action.
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He teaches us a lot not only on how to write essays, but WHY.
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Humor is when you have a mood like a feeling something that it’s in your mind.
No, I haven’t heard of David Sedaris. I just started reading the book let’s explore diabetes with owls and I did so research to know who he is and to know some of his background and his is a American humorist, comedian, author also a radio contributor. He was born in Johnson city, New York.
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Let’s take a deeper look and dive into humor and comedy, what makes us laugh… What do you find?
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It’s a little weird but sarcasm makes me laugh.
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Not weird at all!! I’m the same way!! And got your name by the way.. lol
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I think humor is an important part of composition because it helps make it more interesting and it’s away to connect with people.
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I agreee!
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I agree! Definitely find humor as a way to connect.
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Note for your notes….. Ask yourself WHY you laughed.
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I do know that the area that controls laughter is deep in the subcortex of our brain.
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I believe humor can be used to make you feel connected or related to a situation to the person telling the joke or story. I think that’s why people get captivated byu stories that are told by comedians.
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Yes! And, the story teaches us more about the one telling it!
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When i think of the humor that makes me laugh. I find a lot of humor that I can relate to. People who tell stories with their experience that I can think “I’ve had something similar happen to me as well” are some the best types of humor I enjoy. When I was younger I really enjoyed dark humor, but I think that was more because it was a way to help me cope with thoughts and situations I had no control over. Humor really was a release honestly.
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I love when humor is unexpected. I find that’s when it can be at its most potent.
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Yeah i’d have to agree with you on that, especially when your’e in a group setting and the whole group can laugh at something together it helps bring the group together.
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Humor does have that unifying power, yes.
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A note for your notes….. Make fun of yourself more.
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Laughing is a sensation of joy and humor. We laugh to share meaning and understanding, to feel better, or to reconnect a bond and create a new ones.
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Well written!!! Everyone should have that on their page for tonight!
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What I think abut when it comes to analyzing comedy is how a single word, especially word we aren’t supposed to fucking use can make something just a bit funnier. To many authors, or their publishers forget that and try to do it clean and it could have been better if you use all of the english language.
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Interesting.
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That single word did make it funnier. haha it was unexpected!
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Humor in writing is essential, there will be parts of your story that need the humor in it. although your story may be serious and get deep down in your feelings there has to be parts that are humorous. Thats the way life is, we go through things that when we look back at it makes us laugh because although they seemed like a big deal and not so funny, they weren’t. With all the seriousness your story may have i think there should be humorous parts for entertaining purposes because the reader doesn’t just want to hear about the seriousness of it. Plus it makes your readers more engaged in the story.
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Entertaining purposes, and enlightening ones!
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Very well said! A lot of readers need that humor that will cushion the harshness of a piece. Whether than be a “serious” essay or a lengthy novel, humor is something that will be held onto by readers to continue their interest in the work they are reading, even watching.
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It makes the piece haunting, in a way…
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A note for your notes….. “Laughing is a sensation of joy and humor. We laugh to share meaning and understanding, to feel better, or to reconnect a bond and create a new ones.” Shoutout to Claudia. RESPECT.
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:))
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I think that the humor in writing is more than just entertaining. By making someone laugh, you are strengthening their soul and allowing them to feel and this makes them feel happy even if its just for a few moment. Laughter is one of the strongest emotions or reactions a person can have.
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Humor and comedy grab the readers attention and causes them to engage more while reading. I know when i read and i read something funny i tend to enjoy it more and gravitate more towards that author because he/she can share something i either relate to enjoy.
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Example?
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A note for your notes….. When you try to be funny, sometimes that intention can hurt the result.
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Definitely! There’s always a time to be serious and a time to be joking/funny
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Yes. Humor is mostly timing, not so much intended comedy.
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I can definitely say I am pro at making fun of myself! I think that everything that used to bug me about myself, I started to find as something funny rather than bad, making me feel better about myself. Making fun of yourself is funny and goofy and makes the time you spend with yourself a good time,
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What do you learn from doing that? Educate us, as a pro.
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humor in literature makes the writing much more entertaining and interesting. engaging people is very important when making a writing
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Have you ever made yourself laugh? What happened? Tell us a story…
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I have to laugh at my profile pic here… looks like I have a halo around my head, like I’m angelic or something. When really, I’m ANYTHING but.
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I can think of the funny moments that I have experienced, and I will laugh (if that counts as making myself laugh)
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hey professor Mikey, just checking in where I left the 5 P.M session.
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Light it up!!! Join the conversation, please..
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When I was taking my first driving lesson I forgot which one was the brake and which was the gas so when the instructor told me to put on the brakes in order to go from park to drive I pushed down as hard as I could on the gas in our schools parking lot. I made so much noise and the instructor was made and I couldn’t stop laughing.
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That’s awesome.
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mad*
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When my 8 year-old son talks back to me, or is just a smart-ass… I think it’s the funniest thing ever. I know I should be all discipline-y and sh/t, but what fun would that be?
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7:30
Humor is a way to feel connected. We laugh to show what we feel and what we are we connect too. It’s like when your reading a book you want to feel connected to the writer.
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*you’re …. Sorry. Just being an English Instructor a//hole.
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I make myself laugh quite often. I don’t know If I could give a particular example but it usually just comes in the form of me doing something or thinking something that is infact funny to me and just because no one is around it doesn’t stop me from laughing.
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That’s healthy! Write it down the next time it happens.
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I tend. to space out a lot, and. when I do I tend to say/do something dumb and when i catch myself its funny to me.
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I make myself laugh all the time, remembering some of the funny times Iv’e had. Most of the time though, not a day goes by that I either say something or do something dumb and I can’t help but to laugh at myself. Not going to lie, it’s even funnier when you have small children because even though they have no idea what you did, they still seem to look at you like you have no idea what you are doing. LOL
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I feel like humor gives writing texture and personality.
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Well said.
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I’ve only made myself laugh in the strangest of times. A lot of it has to do with tripping or falling. I remember when I was in middle school I missed a step and fell off the stage and onto the floor. It wasn’t a very high stage, but It was a strange moment for me. I felt everyone staring at me and asking me if I was okay, in that moment I thought what is the point of crying, so I laughed. I laughed and felt my chest bloom with something other than embarrassment. I felt great. I was a little shaky, but I suppose that was the adrenaline from the initial fall, but it felt nice not thinking about how everyone was looking at me, but how funny it was that one of the days I wasn’t looking to the side of the stage was the day I fell off.
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OMG I trip or hit myself all the time! I am a walking accident waiting to happen.LOL
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Same! If i had to count the amount of times that I have tripped/fallen/hit myself I would very well need more than a set of two hands!
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At least you can laugh about it!
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I make myself laugh all the time. Usually while in a group of friends, usually just making fun of each other most of the time. Luckily my group is very small and we can keep it real with each other without getting offended. I do believe you can find humor in ALMOST any situation. There are some very serious situations that have no humor to them at all.
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All helps.
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I love humor that is honest. Writers that make fun of themselves usually is relatable and makes us feel well “normal.” I also laugh at myself quite often and I used to think I was crazy, but now I embrace it!
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Good for you!!
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I thought I was crazy myself too for a while, not anymore.
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I do make myself laugh whether that is laughing at a mistake I made or at something i said. Every once in a while i think of an imaginary scenario that would be funny and itll make me chuckle to myself making others think im crazy.
(that only makes me laugh more.)
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it’ll*
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What are the boundaries with humor. I mean, can anything be found funny?
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NO, not anything can be found funny, I feel like everyone has different boundaries when it comes to when something should be taken serious and when it shouldn’t. Everyone is different, thats something that each person takes in differently.
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Very true. It’s good to be mindful of your humor. But, in terms of self-healing and perspective, there is humor you don’t have to voice. Think about it….
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I believe we can find funny in everything like something sad or even little dark because we all are different and see, feel, and hear things differently.
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Yes. Perspective.
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Oh yes, I can honestly find humor in just about anything, thats just who I am though. Example, I was once at an aunts funeral (she was like 101) and i started cracking up because I remembered how when she would take care of me and my sisters, she would make us ,clean the whole house while she supervised from the couch but we knew she was napping the whole time. LOL
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Healthy. And it can be written.
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