Presentation Transcript
FUNNY JOKE POLITICS :FUNNY JOKE POLITICS How & how not to use humor in communications
Being funny can... :Being funny can... dethrone & deflate an opponent
allow you to say things you couldn’t with a straight face
puncture an argument
make messages much easier to pass along broadly
deflect criticism, show humanity
When does it work? :When does it work? Rarely.
When does it not work? :When does it not work? Often.
Why? :Why? Care too much; don’t want to make light
Comedy is bad at communicating new ideas
Focus is too specific; no entry point
Wrong messenger
Also: it’s really, really hard
How? Meet them half way :How? Meet them half way Need to find a shared premise: common ground
The more surprising, the funnier
Formulas for funny :Formulas for funny Ridiculing character
Pushing argument to extreme
Translate to human speak: sociological or psychological
Connect to pop culture
Juxtapose Language A with Message B
Ridiculing character :Ridiculing character
Push argument extreme :Push argument extreme
Push argument extreme :Push argument extreme
Push argument extreme :Push argument extreme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7bzdj9RlG4
Push argument extreme :Push argument extreme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7X8u5IEEBc
Translate to human speak :Translate to human speak
Explain with pop culture :Explain with pop culture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nqtL-P8kzo
Language A, Message B :Language A, Message B
Language A, Message B :Language A, Message B http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs
But, really, how? :But, really, how? Don’t go with first idea — brainstorm 10 more
Commit.
Context matters — find something to copy
Don’t underestimate the power of swearing, kittens, and sex
You don’t have to be funny :You don’t have to be funny Best as a mindset, not a format
Just be interesting.
Good people :Good people Andy Cobb — andrewtcobb@ca.rr.com
Lee Stranahan — lee@stranahan.com
Andrew Boyd — andrewontheroad@gmail.com
Robert Greenwald — Brave New Films