By Dr. Bill Dyment, co-author of Fire Your Excuses
Do you think being funny is an innate trait? Some people do seem to be “born funny,” the rest of have to work a little harder. The good news
is just as you can be a decent photographer by learning your camera and a bit about post-production, you can get better, much better at using humor in your writing, presentations and at friends and family gatherings.
Humor follows a pattern. It can also be a bit mathematical in its structure and rhythm. Deconstruct why you like certain sketches, jokes, videos and spoofs and you being to understand what you can do to create humor of your own.
Want to use a special joke with your work team, family or friends?
Put your “material” through these 20 filters and humor is likely to appear.
- Bizarre Pairings— ex. __________- challenged, follically-challenged, culinarily-challenged, etc. How could you play off the phrase “horse-whisperer?” _________-whisperer?
E.g., This guy on the freeway today tried to be the semi-whisperer. It did not go so well. We sat in traffic for over in hour.
- Alliteration— words that start with the same letter or sounds,
E.g. Academic Armageddon.
- Repetition— “I love you, man” – for a while it was funnier every time you heard it. (Now it is dead, beware of overusing a phrase or using it after everyone else is over it.) This technique was employed by Mark Twain with great success. It is referred to as a “call back.” Another example: “Show me the money!” Look for “trending” phrases you can introduce your audiences.
- Altered Image, a visual gag—Example: An advertisement for the New York, New York Casinos depicted the Statute of Liberty with her skirt up just like the famous photo of Marilyn Monroe.
- Spoofs—Examples: The L.A. Times produced fake “Low Speed Chase” news segments which were shown as pre-movie advertisements in theatres. Saturday Night Live is well known for their hilarious television commercial spoofs. Remember “the Bassomatic?” “Mom Jeans?”