Comedy Blog- Genghis Goodman

In The Importance of Being Ernest, Oscar Wilde entertains readers with humor derived from satire, word play, irony, or even plain ridiculousness. One of my favorite parts of this play is both satirical and ridiculous. My favorite part is when Cecily describes her diary and her engagement with Algernon. This joke begins by Cecily explaining her fabricated engagement with Algernon 3 months before he had any idea what was going on. Somehow, this scene gets more ridiculous as it unfolds and the audience learns that not only has Cecily created an engagement by herself, but she also broke up with herself, then reestablished the engagement only to provide the necessary drama "all legitimate engagements require." This is not only plain ridiculous, but it also pokes fun at the fantasies people sometimes create for themselves.

I appreciate many forms of humor from satire to terrible puns. After considering plethora of TV shows, websites, and Youtubers, I  decided to write about the TV series "How I Met Your Mother." How I Met Your Mother is a TV series about Ted Mosby's journey to find his soul mate. It's full of light hearted humor containing puns, irony, or even plain crude sex jokes from Barney. One thing I appreciate about the series is that very important life lessons can be delivered in such a fun, humous way. For instance, the night before his wedding, Barney drinks too much, runs away, and ends up teaching two young strangers the "way of the bro." As you can imagine,  high jinks ensues; however, at the end of the night, the final lesson Barney teaches (before running off again) is "Whatever you do in this life, it's not legendary, unless your friends are there to see it." I would definitely recommend watching the entire show, but since I can't put a link for that I put a link to a "best of HIMYM" compilation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrfUAb3mDks

The Importance of Being Earnest

The play by Oscar Wilde, the Importance of Being Earnest, is unique because it has humor that appeals to all types of audiences. It has "low" humor such as slapstick and farce, and "high" humor like situational irony and comedy of manners. One of my favorite lines from the first act is when Algernon says, "Some aunts are tall, some aunts are not tall. That is a matter surly an aunt may be allowed to decide for herself." The notion that people, particularly aunts can pick their height is absurd, making the statement funny.

Personally, my favorite type of humor is political satire. I was first introduced to political satire during the 2008 presidential election (my favorite skit- https://screen.yahoo.com/palin-rap-000000488.html). Along with SNL, I am a Stephen Colbert fan. Although the Colbert Nation came to an end a few months ago he will always have a special place in my heart(the best of Colbert- http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/features/best-of-colbert-report). With Jon Stuart also leaving, I will have to find my political humor in other places.

Comedy Blog- Cassadi Cordea

One moment I thought was particularly clever was when Algernon responded to Jack telling him that his name was not Ernest: "You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life." Here, Wilde create's a double entendre with Ernest's name. Another part that I found amusing was where Lady Bracknell describes Lady Harbury's response to her husband's death.  Losing a spouse is not typically an event that would cause a person to look "twenty years younger", so this could be a comment on the true quality of the marriage. I respond to both "low" and "high" comedy, it really just depends, but overall I think I prefer "high" comedy out of the two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BignPBV32Sk

This clip comes from one of my favorite TV shows, "The Office". One element of comedy immediately observed in this show is that the show itself it is a parody of a documentary, a "mockumentary." "Today, smoking is gonna save lives" is an ironic statement made by Dwight at the beginning of the scene right before he starts a trash can fire in the office. This show is filled with satire, sarcasm, and dry humor and that is why I love it. "Parks and Recreation", which has a similar style to "The Office", is another favorite of mine.

All in Good Humor

Although there are quite a few things in The Importance of Being Earnest that made me chuckle while I was reading it, one of the things I found the funniest was how Algernon order cucumber sandwiches just for his aunt and wouldn't let Earnest eat any even though he himself was eating them. This later led to another part I found to be humorous as when Lady Bracknell finally does arrive Algernon has eaten all the sandwiches and Lane doesn't miss a beat when she's asked about them and tells Lady Bracknell that there simply weren't any cucumbers at the market. The fact that Lane was so ready with an answer makes me think that that wasn't an uncommon occurrence which, to me, made it even funnier.

Even though I think I'm probably one of those people that is a bit too easily amused and find most things to be funny, a tv show that I've watched (somewhat) recently that I found to be highly humorous was Community. Centered around a bunch of community college students who are all in a way failures a lot of absolutely insane things go down at the college. It's pretty rare that there's a serious episode and since all the characters have some kind of quirk to them watching the show is one of my favorite past times.

Comedy-Zac Byrd

Oscar Wilde does a great job throughout this play introducing different puns and double entendres.  When Algernon was talking to Ernest saying "You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life", Algernon used a double entendre with the name Ernest and the characteristic. I prefer high comedy, especially satires. I enjoyed when Wilde talked about marriage, while not directly its about the relationship between Lady Harbury and her deceased husband.

I really enjoy some of the comedy in older movies.  While some of it is not intended comedy because the special effects and acting just aren't great I find it funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za7bHIKsxc4 This is a clip from an Austin Powers movie.   The bantering between the two was nice. This is an extreme exaggeration of a male trying to impress a female.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eMkth8FWno  This is a clip from Month Python and the Holy Grail.  I think this is dramatic irony because of the stubbornness of the black knight.

The importance of being not Jack

Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest is chalk full of quick witted fast paced humor. Whether it’s tall aunts, cutting down marriage, or satirically critiquing high society, Oscar Wilde brings his humor A game. Specifically the scene when Lady Bracknell recalls her poor friend Lady Harbury. After her late husbands passing, Lady Bracknell claims that Lady Harbury looks twenty years younger and that her hair has turned gold with grief. The idea that the death of a husband could induce such a pleasant change in disposition spoken with the stone faced demeanor of the mournful, creates a sharp commentary on marriage that is still relevant and funny today.

As for todays humor there are plenty of quick-witted movies, shows, and books that induce laughter. One of my favorite examples of humor is David Sedaris’s book Me Talk Pretty One Day. The narrative from which the book gets its name is from David’s time spent in France learning French from a Hellish French teacher. Mr. Sedaris’s aspiration’s to learn the language of love are challenged by a hostile learning environment that produces one of the most laugh inducing paragraphs in the book. Sounding like someone confined to a labor camp, one of Sedaris’s fellow classmates gives a heart felt speech in broken French that is terribly laughable. As for the rest of the book, I strongly recommend it to anyone who has a funny bone and a few hours of free time.

Comedy Blog Jania Stevenson

Algernon- You have always told me it was Ernest. I have introduced you as Ernest. You answer to the name of Ernest. You look as if your name was Ernest. You are the most earner-looking person I ever saw in my life. It is perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn't Ernest.

Here Algernon is talking to Ernest about his name. Ernest told Algernon that his name was Jack when Algernon had known him as Ernest the whole time. I found this funny because when Ernest tried to lie about his name, Algernon is just going on and on about the proof he has that is name is actually Ernest. They're also obviously poking fun at the fact that his name is Ernest, probably foreshadowing the fact that Ernest won't be as earnest as we thought.

This section of the play would probably be considered more "high" comedy, but I actually usually respond more to low comedy. I laugh at pretty much anything. For me the stupider something is, the funnier. Shows The Boondocks and Workaholics make me laugh all the time, a long with so many other things.

Comedy - Hannah Pauley

Having already read Ernest, doing a second reading allows me to sit back and giggle shamelessly at the humor I read in my first reading and had already forgotten. Like looking back upon photographs of fond memories, my favorite moments seem always to be the most absurd and outlandish. What is somewhat disturbing about this play, however, is that the absurdity seems to hold some truth; That is, it merely exposes the hypocrisy and nonsense which already existed in English society.
Algernon claims that women "don't think it right" (pg 5) to marry who they flirt with, that proposals are unromantic, and that "divorces [rather than matches] are made in Heaven" (pg 4); Jack swears that he knows no one by the name of Cecily and then contradicts himself to swear that she is his dear aunt who addresses him as "uncle"; and both Jack and Algernon are "Bunburyists" (people who fabricate elaborate lies in order to gallivant around England doing whatever they please).
Though all of this seems like nonsense--and really, it is exactly that--some truth lies in the absurdity. In reality, it may not be a recognized rule that women do not flirt with those whom they intend to marry, but in general distinctions do exist between generally "fun," non-committed relationships and "serious," committed ones. And who is to say that divorces are not as fated as marriages, and cannot be "for the best," so to speak, in the long run? Jack and Algernon's lifestyle choices may not seem "normal," but in truth, it may be that most people are not "normal," and on occasion will go to ridiculous lengths to get what they want (e.g. the young lady on "Maury" who told her boyfriend she was pregnant just so that he would consider resuming the relationship).

This absurd, situational humor and ironic banter is also present in many of the television shows I enjoy (such as "Portlandia," "New Girl"(ashamedly), "Bob's Burgers," and "Parks and Recreation"). In general these programs are satires on the hipster scene, complicated friendships, family life, and work life, but in some ridiculous and round-about way, many of them reveal truths, or distort existing truths, to simply poke fun at society. Humans are far from perfect, and with literature like Wilde's and actors like Carrie Brownstein, one can begin almost to appreciate the sometimes pathetic, sometimes funny human condition which renders us all a little bit ridiculous.

Comedy: Grace Goulson

One of my favorite parts from Act I was when Jack and Algernon were discussing Jack's "aunt" Cecily. Responding to Algernon's confusion of why she called herself "little Cecily" in the note, Jack says: "Some aunts are tall, some aunts are not tall. That is a matter that surely an aunt may be allowed to decide for herself. You seem to think that every aunt should be exactly like your aunt! That is absurd!" Indeed, though, the very fact that Jack is getting so unusually riled up about this is comical to me. Another comical moment came when Lady Bracknell says "Well I must say, Algernon, that I think it is high time that Mr. Bunbury made up his mind whether he was going to live or die. The shilly-shallying with the question is absurd." First, there is the nature of her request: it is ridiculous to think that humans can really control whether they die. Second, there is her use of the word "shilly-shallying," which is so classically British and funny to me. I think I respond to ridiculous/absurd/nonsensical humor most, whether it be high or low. If I were to choose between the two, though, I'd probably say high humor.

I love funny TV shows. Some of my favorites are: The Office, Friends, Parks and Recreation, Arrested Development, Portlandia and 30 Rock. The humor in Portlandia is very quirky and ridiculous, but thats why I like it. Check out these clips from Portlandia. PLS WATCH.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMqoqK73T3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGqs2przXlg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef7cTuVUiWs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHmLljk2t8M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCDbY_lXS5A

Portlandia is a satirical sketch show with a few different sketches in each episode. Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein appear in each sketch and are absolutely HILARIOUS. I just love the weird humor and weird situations that arise. It never fails to make me laugh out loud, and there are an endless amount of links I could have posted that are equally as funny as the next. The show has a lot of satire and ridiculous farcical humor. I just love it so much :)

Comedy Blog- Karl Werner

While I do enjoy movies like Dumb and Dumber, I prefer high comedy over the low. Oscar Wilde does an excellent job of stuffing this novel with just that stuff. There are several double entendres that I enjoyed, including Algernon's line upon learning Jack's real name: "You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw". The play there, of course, is on the word earnest and the name Ernest. I also found the witty lines throughout the act on marriage quite funny. Algernon's aunt talking about how the death of her friend's husband had significantly improved that friends life and Lane the butler's almost apologetic statement of only marrying once so far were my favorites in this regard.

As for modern humor, just log on to the Onion.com. Their satirical "news" articles are perhaps not all school friendly, but they are all brilliant and laugh-inducing. They critique nearly every corner of modern life and society. If not in the mood for reading, I would recommend one checks out some of today's preeminent sketch comedy artists. Chappelle's Show (Dave Chappelle) is a great example of this. This is most definitely not school friendly, but it intertwines high and low humor to create(it is debatable) the greatest sketch comedy in the history of mankind. 

Comedy - Max Morris

     Of all the examples of humor in the play so far, I found the line about one from Jack where he accuses Algernon of speaking like a dentist the funniest. It's the absurdism of a certain vocal pattern being attributed to a dentist, as opposed to any other sort of doctor, that I found comical. I suppose there was also a pun about the double entendre of the word "impression" in there, but forget that, that's not funny at all. Puns are only funny if they're so poorly done that it's ridiculous, a pun that's actually pretty good is no fun at all. The rest of the humor is pretty hit and miss for me, I'm always amused but rarely think it's truly funny. I feel like a fool but I never cared for stereotypically British wit.

     I have a strange sense of humor. The only things that make me laugh are things that make me uncomfortable, or absurd situations. If I know why I think it's funny, then typically, it isn't funny to me. I tend to like shows like Nathan for You and Check it Out! that consist of formats and situations we are all familiar with, but pushed to ridiculous and sometimes disturbing levels. My two comedic heroes are Tim Heidecker and Andy Kaufman, both of who specialize in making the audience uncomfortable, and blurring the line between jokes and reality. I don't know at all why I find these things funny, as there is never anything inherently comical about them, but they both make me laugh until I can hardly breath.

Comedy Blog: Kelsey Halbert

 JACK: “You don’t think there is any chance of Gwendolen becoming like her mother in about a hundred and fifty years, do you, Algy?”
ALGERNON: “All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.”
JACK: “Is that clever?”
ALGERNON: "It is perfectly phrased! and quite as true as any observation in civilized life should be.”

This scene in Act I was particularly amusing to me because at a young age, no one ever wants to be anything similar to their mother, yet once they mature they realize later in life they are almost identical to one another. Also, this mocks how women become like their mothers but men do not. It is a tragedy for us, but not for them, somewhat chastising mothers/women. Most of the things my mom does right now is really irritating to me, but me not picking up almost everything she does is inevitable. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwXLvn2sd6I

Adult innuendos in children's movies are amusing to me. When I was younger the jokes would fly right over my head, but as I watch children's movies now I catch more and more of the adult jokes and it makes the movies hilarious. 

Comedy Blog-Eliot Smith

I'm a big fan of interrupters.  This isn't really self-explantory--what I mean is the very sudden switch of conversation topic between people.  This may be a tad confusing at first, but the opening scene in The Importance of Being Earnest exemplifies it rather well.  In the scene, Algernon and Jack are talking about somewhat serious topics (albeit with comedy laced throughout the conversation).  Suddenly, however, the conversation topic is switched to cucumber sandwiches, a complete deviation from the original banter.  Jack asks to have one, Algernon refuses, and eats one himself.  This sudden, swift switch of conversation topic is comical in nature, as it provides a relief from the main story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRZ2Sh5-XuM

This video is a classic that makes absolutely no sense.  I really don't think it critiques any part of society...it could possibly be interpreted as a commentary on the monotony of everyday tasks?  I'm not sure, but it's nonsensical and hilarious.


This is rather out of context but I thought Jersey Shore was hilarious because of how dumb they were.  That sounds pretty demonic and judgmental, but we all have our vices.  Even though Jersey Shore is not still running, it rather perfectly mocked the rampant "party culture" that a large part of our society fantasizes about.

Comedy-Jasa Harris

I found several scenes in Act One of The Importance of Being Earnest to be slightly funny. One of the first examples of comedy I saw was on page 2

Algernon: (Languidly) I don’t know that I am much interested in your family life, Lane.

Lane: No, sir, it is not a very interesting subject. I never think of it myself.  

I found Lane’s response to be funny. This is an example of sarcasm. I found it to be funny just because Lanes comes across as the sarcastic servant type who just doesn’t care. Lane refers to a serious, and important issue so nonchalantly, he brushes it off. Algernon dismisses Lane’s family, and Lane just completely agrees with him.

Personally, I think I am more into farce comedy. I just find it funny when people over exaggerate situations. And I think it’s funny when stupid, unrealistic stuff happens in movies and shows. Also, I like shock characters some of my favorites are the “dumb blonde” and the “Town bully.” Here are just some examples of farce comedy I enjoyed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00xPrvcUoQk&list=PLnMeHMOfQrAC4LXieGsunhPwW8Tig8Y1J In this clip everything is over exaggerated for no reason, and I found it to be funny. 

Comedy Blog- Sydney Smith

Algernon: If it was my business, I wouldn't talk about it. (Begins to eat muffins.) It is very vulgar to talk about one's business. Only people like stockbrokers do that, and then merely at dinner parties.
Jack: How can you sit there, calmly eating muffins when we are in this horrible trouble, I can't make out. You seem to me to be perfectly heartless.
Algernon: Well, I can't eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs. One should always eat muffins quite calmly. It is the only way to eat them.
Jack: I say it's perfectly heartless, your eating muffins at all, under the circumstances.
Algernon: When I am in trouble, eating is the only thing that consoles me. Indeed, when I am in really great trouble, as anyone who knows me intimately will tell you, I refuse everything except food and drink. At the present moment, I am eating muffins because I am unhappy. Besides, I am particularly fond of muffins. (Rising.)
Jack: (Rising.) Well that is no reason you should take them all in that greedy way. (Takes muffins from Algernon.)

-from "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde (Act II)


Using an excessive amount of irony and a focus on trivial/ absurd situations, Wilde is able to effectively satirize the Victorian morals, etiquette, and and manners of the members of the upper class. In this passage, Wilde focuses on a trivial set of moral expectations and manners, as the conversation between Algernon and Jack centers around whether or not it is "appropriate" for Algernon to be eating muffins. Wilde makes the situation seem overly absurd, and the comedic elements of the conversation chastise the upper class's focus on such trivial details. I generally respond to Wilde's "high comedy" -- his use of cerebral humor such as puns and satire -- rather than his "low comedy."

Recently, some of my favorite comedy has come from YouTube -- particularly from political humorists such as Jon Stewart and John Oliver who present hilarious commentary on current events and important world issues. This feeds my love of "high comedy", I guess, because they tend to market their comedy towards an informed audience who understands their political and social references. I am a well-known lover of puns (as demonstrated by my "Heart of Darkness" Valentines), and they use lots of puns. Most of all, I appreciate their ability to spin news stories and current events into comedy, while still managing to inform me about important issues.

Here is one of my favorite John Oliver videos (I have many favorites, though!) It discusses an important issue: pharmaceutical companies marketing to doctors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQZ2UeOTO3I

Comedy: Rachel Hart

Algernon: But why does she call herself Cecily if she is your aunt and lives at Tumbridge Wells? "From little Cecily with her fondest love." Jack: My dear fellow, what on earth is there in that? Some aunts are tall, some aunts are not tall. That is a matter that surely an aunt may be allowed to decide for herself. You seem to think every aunt should be exactly like your aunt! That is absurd! For Heaven's sake give me back my cigarette case. Algernon: But why does your aunt call you her uncle? "From little Cecily with her fondest love to her dear uncle Jack." I find this part humorous as Jack has been caught in a lie about knowing Cecily. He tries to convince Algernon she's his aunt to cover up her real identity, but the more Algernon pushes the worse Jack's story gets. This is a good example of situational humor, the story quickly becomes nonsense and seems a tad bit absurd to the reader as to why Jack would lie about who Cecily was rather than just telling Algernon who she really was. I find humor in simple things, like people hurting themselves or doing stupid things that you know are going to end bad. It wouldn't be a long shot to say I can be easily amused, which is probably why I find humor in most reality shows like Dance Moms. The stupidity of moms arguing with their daughters' dance teacher or complaining about things at the studio when they could just choose to leave instead, makes me laugh.

How is Comedy-Isaac Satin

There have been 3 exchanges in Act I of "The Importance of Being Ernest" which have struck me as particularly funny so far: The first is on page 2, "Algernon: (Languidly) I don't know that I am much interested in your family life, Lane.
Lane: No, sir; it is not a very interesting subject. I never think of it myself." The second is on page four, where Algy says  "Please don't touch the cucumber sandwiches. They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta" and then promptly eats one of the sandwiches. The third happens on page eight with the line  “My dear Algy, you talk exactly as if you were a dentist. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when one isn’t a dentist. It produces a false impression.” The first and third of these examples are considered to be in the school of "high" humor, the first mainly using sarcasm and satire, and the third making use of a pun. Meanwhile the second example is in the "low" school of comedy as it mainly involves physical action. Personally of the three I find the first and second exchanges to be the funniest; something about a dismissive attitude makes me laugh, and the characters in those moments are nothing if not dismissive.

My favorite types of comedy are meta and absurdist humor. Meta humor is when the joke is self referencing and relates to something outside of the production it is part of; for example, the opening of season 3 of the show Community included a musical number which, while amusing on its own, is even funnier when you know that the song is referencing criticisms lobbed at the show during its first 2 seasons (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wi9qKURtKI). The lines "We're going to seem like a mainstream dream/and be appealing to all mankind" are particularly funny- though out of context they may seem strange, they are actually hyperbolizing words from the mouths of NBC executives who said the show did not have enough mainstream appeal and throwing it back in their face. Then there's absurdist humor. A prime example of this in literature is the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; almost any exchange from the book has absurdism somewhere in it. However the internet has allowed for something of a new era of absurdism in comedy: to help make my point I'm going to use two of my favorite twitter accounts, @dril (https://twitter.com/dril) and @nihilist_arbys (https://twitter.com/nihilist_arbys). First from @dril we have the tweet "laying in the car, hiding firom my malicious Wife because im in trouble for buying too many toothpicks to fit into the tooth pick holder." No part of this tweet is inherently funny, but somehow the formatting, outlandishness and absurdity of the tweet makes it funny. Then Nihilist Arby's has this tweet: "Tonight, fake looking humans worship each other for their beauty and artifice. Tomorrow, at least one of you will be dead. Arbys: whatever." Again, nothing SHOULD be funny about this. If anything it ought to be depressing. But somehow, it is funny. I think, in this case, the humor stems from the idea that an actual Arby's PR representative is paid to run this account but they're such a horribly depressing person that each promotional tweet becomes a depressing look at what our lives really are; you could even argue that the Nihilist Arby's twitter is actively satirizing the capitalistic notion of what we consume determining our value. It's these outlandish thoughts that the tweets prompt that give them comedic value, not the tweets themselves, and that's really neat.

Comedy Blog Post- Cassie Adams

In The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde often uses "high" comedy, particularly puns, epigrams, irony and inversion. Wilde was known particularly for his use of epigrams, which are often paradoxical, memorable phrases. There are many of these throughout Act 1 such as, "Divorces are made in Heaven," and, "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." In my opinion, these witty phrases and plays on words are what makes the play humorous and enjoyable to read.

Wilde also often uses irony. One example of this is the scene in which Algernon is eating the cucumber sandwiches. When Jack requests one as well, Algernon refuses, claiming they were made especially for his Aunt Augusta, but continues to eat them himself. Another example is a quote from Algernon where he claims that Earnest (Jack) is the "most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life." Here, it is ironic that he is calling Jack earnest, or sincere, when he is clearly lying about his name.

One of my favorite shows to watch is New Girl. It is a sitcom that follows Jess, a young woman who moves into an apartment with three other rommates, all of which are guys. Overall, the show involves mostly farce, with many ridiculous and improbable scenes and plot lines related to the characters' romantic relationhips, careers, and day to day lives. My favorite character on the show is Schmidt, who is one of the four roommates. He has a number of funny and quirky sayings and habits that add humor to the show. Here is a clip of some of his best quotes and moments from season one.

Comedy Blog- Thomas Ueland

On page 8, Jack responds to Alergnon with, “My dear Algy, you talk exactly as if you were a dentist. It is very vulgar to talk like a dentist when one isn’t a dentist. It produces a false impression.” Comparing someone’s speech to a dentist struck me as odd because how a dentist speaks isn’t as commonly known as how a lawyer or doctor speaks (more general professions). Wilde uses a dentist to set up the pun on the word “impression.” Algernon was acting like someone else and so he was leading Jack to a false impression (opinion), but a dentist also uses impressions (molds) on a patient’s teeth. This is an example of the cerebral “high” comedy, and I respond to both the high and low types of comedy.

Jason Sudeikis’ role as Ted Lasso for an English Premier League commercial is an excellent example of modern satire. It mocks America’s ignorance of soccer by placing an American football coach in charge of a British football team. As Coach Lasso learns the rules of the game, he delivers memorable quotes such as "If you tried to end a game in a tie in the United States, heck, that might be listed in Revelations as the cause of the apocalypse.” The skit pokes fun at the differences between American and British sports culture, shown by Lasso’s oblivious response to his new nickname of “wanker.” The commercial attempts to raise awareness about British football in America through humor.

Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG_i8CWE8

A Comedy Blog Post // Hannah Pulley

Algernon: I thought you had come up for pleasure? …I call that business.

Jack: How utterly unromantic you are!

Algernon: I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If I ever get married, I'll certainly try to forget the fact.

Jack: I have no doubt about that, dear Algy. The Divorce Court was specially invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted.

Algernon: Oh! There is no use speculating on that subject. Divorces are made in Heaven--

Most of the comedic elements in the first act of The Importance of Being Earnest employ comedy of manners and farce to poke fun at society’s careless treatment of familial and romantic relationships at the time. When Algernon is discussing what he does and doesn't consider romantic about a marriage proposal, the misinterpretation he makes is what makes the audience laugh. Once in a relationship, monotony and a grudging routine of saying we love each other can leave everyone involved unsatisfied and wondering why they're together in the first place. The opposite of this is not fearful uncertainty about the future, but variety and a sense of adventure. Contemplate how you would lead an interesting life if you were on your own, and now consider that same journey with someone whose company you enjoy. Go ahead and live your spontaneous, interesting life, but also consider the future and keep it close at mind; so many divorces seem to happen when people fail to envision how they will live after the honeymoon is over. (I'm not funny, nor am I a relationship expert.)

After spending part of the four day weekend talking to a friend I haven't seen in person since the end of seventh grade, and haven't spoken to online since freshman year, I suddenly remembered videos made by prominent YouTubers of the time that we would send to each other, among them many made by Julian Smith. Looking back, I only see a vague shadow of why I found his absurdist and pun-heavy humor entertaining, but I also feel fleeting nostalgia for the cultural phenomenon that was ‘XD lolz sooooo random,’ which likely was a catalyst for his popularity. In some circles, it seems that the internet, the universe, and time are all looping back on themselves as we re-learn how to use the strange and absurd to cope with the bleak world we live in by satirizing it.  I’ll leave you with these classics.

Comedy Blog

The scene in which Jack is speaking with Lady Bracknell about his background (after he proposes to Gwendolen) is particularly funny because Lady Bracknell seems to be saying things the opposite of how they should be. (The widow looks twenty years younger; her hair has gone gold from grief, etc.) The scene also pokes fun at the idea of marriage, which is a common theme throughout Act One and probably the entire novel. Both comedy of manners and farce are seen in that scene. I think I respond to both levels of comedy; some are just funnier than others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PidwXGDBHbQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW4VvIhhCIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJeSo1JEwJs

All three are links to popular slam poems that I find funny. (For the most part. Sometimes they start off funny and get serious really quickly.) Each one of the slam poems employs satire, especially the last two, which utilize sarcasm to critique society and society’s views on feminism. I also find the first slam poem to be pretty witty, which would put it in the category of comedy of manners. Both satire and comedy of manners are seen as “high” comedy.