It's really not funny - so why do we laugh?

HWK:

1. Purchase Vonnegut book and Moleskin journal - you will have to jot things down in class or outside of class.

2. Google: "Humor", "Comedy", and "What's funny?"

3. Post what you learned and one thing that made you laugh or you found insightful that will help guide our understanding of humor. 

4. CHECK YOUR EMAIL for blog invite.

In Class:

Share your "Not-so funny story"

Feedback - how was it funny? why is it funny? how could your partner make the story funnier? Set up - payoff. Significant details - too few. Punchline. Beginning, middle, end.

Intro:

1. Course Description: Review

2. Academic Integrity: Comedians are ruthless plagiarists, yet they still give homage - or "credit where credit is due" - whether people like it or not.  Think of imitations that become parodies and farces.

Don't plagiarize without acknowledgment - include links and sources when ever posting to this class blog.

Share Vonnegut clips.

1. Biography.com  http://www.biography.com/people/kurt-vonnegut-9520329/videos


2. Vonnegut on the Shape of Short Stories:

Journal - what are your thoughts on Vonnegut and dark humor today? Who is the funniest person you know and why? Do you consider yourself to be a funny person.

Clip from Goodfellas "Funny how?"

Suggested reading and viewing:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/laughter5.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/13/science/13tier.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.openculture.com/2011/05/a_daily_dose_of_jerry_seinfeld.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humour