In my ongoing search to
uncover my particular style of humor, I had fun this week exploring dead pan
humor, also known as dry humor. I know I went over this in my last installment, but I
had so much fun, I decided everyone needs a good laugh to start the week. And,
because I’ve settled on dry humor as my style, I thought I'd share some examples: Stephen Wright, got me laughing at his site with:
Last night I played a blank tape at full blast. The mime next door went nuts.
If a person with multiple personalities threatens suicide, is that considered a hostage situation?
If a cow laughed, would milk come out her nose?
Whatever happened to preparations A through G?
Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste funny?
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
OK, so what's the speed of dark? (borrowed this for today's blog title)
Do Roman paramedics refer to IV's as "4's"?
Because some people have difficulty in grasping dry humor (Huh? Was that suppose to be funny?) which is described in two different ways, I found these explanations for you on group discussion boards on humor (who knew they had them):
Dry humor relates to being serious, or not appearing to be trying to be funny, and in doing so, it becomes funny or humorous.
Deadpan humor is more about the form of non-comedic delivery in which this type of humor is presented without a change in emotion or facial expression, usually speaking in a monotone manner.
Examples of deadpan humor are:
- Brian from Family Guy, The Office, Stephen Colbert from the Colbert Report, and Bill Murray, who has done a lot of dry humor.
- For the older crowd, there’s Bob Newhart, George Burns and Gracie Allen (a genius at deadpan delivery). YouTube (audio only, sorry) on George and Gracie on: Jive Talk.
- Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry in a sketch of deadpan humor which ends in a bit of slapstick.
A few more words of humor for your edification, with minimal explanation:
levity - (lightness of mind, fickleness, inappropriate lack of seriousness)
playfulness, pleasantry
quip - (clever or witty remark) or (a sharp, cutting or sarcastic remark) a quibble
raillery - (good humored ridicule, banter)
satire – a literary genre or form—strong irony or sarcasm used with the purpose of shaming or ridiculing
people and/or society into improvement.
slapstick - broad comedy characterized by boisterous action, mugging, and obvious farcical situations and jokes.
tomfoolery - a silly act or behavior
waggery - roguish or droll humor
wisecrack - (a smart or facetious remark)
whimsicality or whimsy - odd or fanciful, a product of playful or capricious fancy which may have stemmed from this word whose origin is from 1490-1500:
whim-wham (noun)
1. any odd or fanciful object or thing; a gimcrack.
2. whim-whams. nervousness; jitters: He had the whim-whams after the accident.
Well, that’s all I have on humor, hope it was informative
and entertaining. Love to hear your thoughts.
I hope you had a good laugh this week, or at least a chuckle
at someone’s dry/deadpan humor. Why not
share it so we can all smile?
