English 2249-01
American Humor
Fall 2011
Dr. Ed Piacentino
Office: 210 Norcross Hall
Office Hours: 9:15-10:15 a.m. MWF, 10-11:30 a.m.,TTh
or by appointment
e-mail: epiacent@highpoint.edu
Phone: 841-9296
Meeting Place: Phillips 223
Meeting Time:8-8:50 MWF
:
Description: This course focuses on what motivates laughter, how humorists help us to “see” funny” and
thereby to generate humorous responses. To establish a context for why things may be funny, various
theoretical explanations for laughter and how they work will be examined. The content for the course
features a wide range of materials from the American comic tradition, both from American literary and
from popular culture. Some of the materials we will examine are: folk humor and tall tales (both of the
rural and urban variety), stories, sketches, essays, a generous sampling of works by Mark Twain,
parodies, humor of minorities, particularly of African Americans, comic strips, editorial cartoons,
situation comedies, stand-up comedy, clips from film, caricatures, and women’s humor. 4 credit hours.
4th Hour: The course will meet 50 minutes 3 times per week. For the fourth hour, every other week, you
will complete outside of class a short (350 words) written graded exercise via Blackboard pertaining to
selected assignments that must be posted by a designated date. Your responses will part of an ongoing
blog concerning what constitutes the American sense of humor. More information about this aspect of
the course will be explained below.
Texts:
Mark Twain: Tales, Speeches, Essays, and Sketches
Redressing the Balance: American Women’s Literary Humor from Colonial Times to the 1980s. Ed. Nancy
Walker and Zita Dresner. (pdf texts of reading selections on Blackboard )
Other selected ther e-texts and Internet materials.
Goals
Goal 1. The student should become familiar with how humor is employed across various disciplines.
Goal 2. The student should be familiar with various theories of comedyexplanations concerning what
motivates humorous responses.
Goal 3. The student should be familiar with prevalent comic and/or satiric strategies or devices
employed in literary texts as well as in popular forms of humor.
Goal 4. The student should improve research, analytical, and writing skills, including the correct
application of Standard English.
Goal 5. The student should recognize major recurring elements such as theme, subject matter, character
types, structural patterns, or situations that are exemplified in the humorous materials studied and be
familiar with and able to define various terms related to humor and satire.
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Goals cont.
Goal 6. The student should enrich her/his sense of humor and expand her/his knowledge and
understanding of humor across selected disciplines.
Attendance. Regular attendance is essential to your success in this course; however, to accommodate
illness and other emergencies, 5 absences are allowed. THERE ARE NO EXCUSED ABSENCES. If you miss
assignments or need clarification about material covered in class during your absence, it is your
responsibility to contact the instructor.
Cell Phone and Computer Restrictions. Cell phones should be turned and no text messaging is allowed
during this class. Also, if you bring a lap top computer, I pad, or I phone to class, surfing the web;
checking your e-mail; accessing your Facebook, Twitter, or other social network accounts; texting, etc.
are absolutely prohibited. While computers may be brought to this class, they should remain closed.
Everything you will need to see or hear in this class will be provided electronically in the classroom
and can be accessed anytime during the semester after materials have been posted on Blackboard,
the major intranet tool we will use in the course.
Blog. Since this class will meet only 3 times per week for 50-minute class sessions, to cover the 4th hour
(remember the University has changed to 4-credit-hour courses), I have included a blog which will give
you the opportunity to study texts and to contextualize concerning what makes them funny and how
their humorous dimension functions. The Blog assignments can accessed on Blackboard for this course
via the Course Tools link (“blogs”). You will be required to respond to 6 (six) blog prompts, which should
be developed with selected and apt details from the humorous text or texts they address. Beginning
with the third week of class, a new prompt will be posted every other Monday, with your response,
which must be posted electronically, due usually on Thursday of the same week. The principal emphasis
in your response must include insightful and persuasive perceptions based on close readings of the
materials featured. Each blog response, which will be worth 10 possible points, will be evaluated
according to the following criteria: 9-10: Response reflects original and perceptive thinking, exhibits
clarity of expression, and includes relevant support from the specific text(s) under discussion; 7-8 will be
assigned to a response that shows a promising attempt at critical and/or creative thinking, some
development of ideas, and clarity and coherence; 5-6 will be assigned to a response that is average, and
although it may introduce some interesting ideas, it does not develop them specifically, clearly, and
persuasively; 4 and below will be assigned to a response that is unsatisfactory in virtually every respect
and that suggests from the mediocrity of the response that the student has not read the text(s) and
consequently has been unable to fulfill the expectations of the prompt. 0 for any response not posted by
the designated deadline. This segment of the course will count 60 points. Some of the better blog
responses will be used in class to stimulate discussion.
Research Project. You will be required to complete one paper of 1000-1200 words, using at least one
text (a text may also be media piece) or a combination of several texts for comparative essays. Your
paper should have a central idea, an arguable thesis that must be developed from a close reading and
analysis of the humorous materials you feature, and relevant research from a minimum of three
authoritative sources (sources may included reputable and authoritative web sites, electronic resources
[such as e-books, electronic versions of scholarly articles, etc.]). Because specific topics will not be
assigned, you need to discover your own subject and focus for the paper. Inevitably, some possibilities
of topics will emerge from blogs and class discussions. Also, I will be glad to talk to you individually
about topics you are considering and some possible approaches. Concerning documentation, you may
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Research Project cont.
use either MLA or APA, both of which are discussed and illustrated on the HPU Libraries webpage under
the Citation Guides link. If you finish a draft of the paper at least one week before the final copy is due, I
will be glad to read and review it, offering some practical observations for revision. All papers should be
submitted to me as an e-mail attachment no later than the due date indicated on the Assignment
Schedule below. Soon after fall break, you much send me an electronic proposal for your paper. More
will be explained about this later.
Grading and Assessment. The individual components for determining the final grade are: biweekly
blogs, a mini-research project involving the close analysis of the comic dynamics of a texts or several
texts assigned in the course, class participation, a midterm exam, and a final exam.
Class participation 15%
Blogs 20%
Research Project 20%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 25%
The grading scale is as follows:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: 59 and below
A+ 98
A 95
A- 91
B+ 88
B 85
B- 81
C+ 78
C 75
C- 71
D+ 68
D 65
D- 61
F 50 or a number designated by the instructor.
Schedule of Assignments:
W Aug. 24 Why do we laugh?
F Aug. 26 Three theoretical perspectives for laughter: Incongruity, Superiority, and Aggression Release
M Aug. 29 The Humor of Enlargement: Fable, Tall Tales, and the Art of Hyperbole: Mark Twain: Ade,
“The Fable of the Preacher Who Flew His Kite” (B/b); Twain, “Jim Baker’s Blue Jay Yarn” (MT, 156)
“Whipping a Catamount” (B/b); (B/b); Twain, “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” (MT, 13)
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Assignment Schedule cont.
W Aug. 31 The Humor of Enlargement: Fantasy and Modern Tall Tale Thurber, “The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty” (B/b); Vonnegut, “Tom Edison’s Shaggy Dog” (B/b); Ray Stevens, “The Mississippi Squirrel
Revival” (B/b)
F Sept. 2 and M Sept. 5 Liars, Rascals, Rogues, and the Art of Comic Deception. January, “That Big Dog
Fight at Myers” (B/b); Twain, “The Story of the Old Ram” (MT, 68); O’Connor, “Good Country People”
(B/b); Fox, “Coley Moke” (B/b)
W Sept. 7 Urban Legend and Hoaxes. “What It Takes” (B/b); “More Biscuits for Brains” (B/b); “Pizza
Spies” (B/b); “Exam Scam” (B/b); “Failed Suicide” (B/b); “Is Lady Gaga a Man? A Woman? A
Hermaphrodite?” (B/b); “Power Line Virus” (B/b); “Work Virus” (B/b)
F Sept. 9 The Oral Story: Garrison Keillor, “The News from Lake Wobegon” (B/b)
Minority Humor: Comedy from the Margins
M Sept. 12 and W Sept. 14: African American and Native American Folklore: Trickery, Deception,
Subversion, Empowerment. Selected Uncle Remus Tales of Joel Chandler Harris (B/b); John and Old
Marster Stories (B/b); Native American Trickster tales: “The Great Spirit Names the Animal People: How
Coyote Came by his Powers” (Okanogan) (B/b); Manabozho and the "Hell-Diver" (Menomini) [The
Duped Dancers] (B/b);”Wakdjunkaga, Trickster” (Winnebago) (B/b)
F Sept. 16 More African American Folklore. Chesnutt, “The Conjurer’s Revenge” (B/b); Hurston, “Talking
Mule Story” (B/b); “Why Women Always Take Advantage of Men” (B/b)
M Sept. 19 African American Humor—Modern and Contemporary. Childress, “Pocketbook Game”
(B/b); “Mrs. James” (B/b); Stand up Comedy: Moms Mabley, “Good Old Days” (B/b); Bill Cosby. “My
Father’s Car” (B/b)
W Sept. 21. Modern and Contemporary Minority Humor. Malamud,. “The Jewbird” (B/b); Allen, “Taking
a Visitor to See the Ruins” (RB, 444); Anjelah Johnson, “Nail Salon Uncut” (B/b)
F Sept. 23 Modern and Contemporary Minority Humor. Comedy of Chris Rock and George Lopez.
Rock: “How Not to Get Your Ass Kicked by the Police (B/b); Lopez, “Spanglish” (B/b); Lopez, “America’s
Mexican” (B/b)
M Sept. 26 Minority Comic strips: McGruder, The Boondocks; Cantu and Castellanos’ Baldo
W Sept. 28 Minority Comic strips cont. and review for midterm exam
*F Sept. 30 Midterm Exam. (out of class essay due by class time and should be submitted electronically
as an e-mail attachment. Short response section will be done in class
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Assignment Schedule cont.
The Humor of Social, Cultural, and Political Commentary
M Oct. 3 Franklin, “Old Mistresses Apologue” (B/b); Locke, Nasby Shows Why He Should Not Be Drafted”
(B/b); Holley, “”A Day of Trouble” (RB, 101)
W Oct. 5 Mark Twain. “An Encounter with an Interviewer” (MT, 85); “The Tomb of Adam” (MT, 45);
“Barnum’s First Speech to Congress” (MT 24)
F Oct. 7 Mark Twain. “The Facts Concerning the Recent Carnival of Crime in Connecticut” (MT, 110)
M Oct. 10 Mark Twain. “Cannibalism in the Cars” (MT, 28); “Whittier Birthday Speech” (134)
W Oct. 12 Mark Twain. from “Old Times on the Mississippi” (MT, 90-109)
F Oct. 14 “Old Times on the Mississippi” cont.; Barry, “Can New York Save Itself?” (B/b)
FALL BREAK
M Oct. 24 The Humor of the Grotesque and Absurd. O’Connor, “A Late Encounter with the Enemy”
(B/b) ; clips from Catch-22 (B/b)
*W Oct. 26 The Frustrations of the Little Soul. Benchley, “Back in Line” (B/b); Baker, “On Conning Ed”
(B/b); Hoppe, “The Waiting Game” (B/b). Proposal for research project, which should be sent
electronically as an e-mail attachment, is due.
F Oct. 28 Burlesque and Parody. Twain, “An Awful, Terrible Medieval Romance” (MT, 37)Clips from Jon
Stewart’s The Daily Show
M Oct.31 A Comic Mockumentary: The Office (B/b)
W Nov. 2 Caricature and Editorial Cartooning. Selected recent editorial cartoons will be featured in class
(B/b)
F Nov. 4 Dark Humor and the Comedy of Cynicism. Bierce, Selected definitions from the Devil’s
Dictionary(B/b); Selected rants of Dennis Miller via video clips (B/b)
M Nov. 7 Dark Humor. Twain, “The Private History of the Campaign That Failed” (MT, 163)
Women’s Humor
W Nov. 9 Early Voices: Criticism of the Status Quo. Knight, from The Journal of Madam Knight (RB, 610); Fern, “Aunt Hetty on Matrimony” (RB, 47); Stephens, from High Life in New York by Jonathan Slick.
Esq. (RB, 52)
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Assignment Schedule cont.
F Nov. 11 Early Voices: Criticism of the Status Quo. Gilman, “If I Were a Man” (RB, 170); Rowland, “If
She Could Advertise” (RB, 252); “It Must Be Thrilling to Be a Man” (RB, 253); “Man’s Sweet Dream” (RB,
254); Wells, selected poems (RB 134-138)
M Nov. 14 Perspectives on Relationships and Roles. Parker, “The Waltz” (RB, 258); “Unfortunate
Coincidence” (RB, 265); “Comment” (RB, 266); “General Review of the Sex Situation” (RB, 266)
*W Nov. 16 Perspectives on Relationships and Roles. Bombeck, “What Is a Nice Girl Like Me Doing in a
Dump Like This?” (RB, 358); Viorst, “The Other Woman” (RB, 374); “Anti-Heroine” (RB, 377). Research
Project is due by class time and should be sent electronically as an e-mail attachment. NO LATE
PAPERS!
F Nov. 18 Phoenix Festival—no class
M Nov. 21 Contemporary Voices. Shange, “Lady in Red” (RB, 411); “wow. . . yr just like a man!” (RB.
412); Clifton, “Homage to My Hips” (B/b); Giovanni, “Woman” (RB, 408); “Housecleaning” (RB, 409)
M Nov. 28 Contemporary Voices. Brown, from Rubyfruit Jungle (RB, 392); Jong, “Seventeen Warnings in
Search of a Feminist Poem” (RB. 387)
W Nov. 30 Contemporary Voices. McFadden, “Kate’s New Space” (419); clips from a recent sitcom
featuring strong women
F Dec. 2 Contemporary Voices. Steinem, “If Men Could Menstruate” (RB, 429); Sausser, “Lesbian
Potlucks Through History” (RB, 447)
M Dec. 5 Contemporary Voices: Women Stand ups. Lisa Lampanelli: The “Queen of Mean” and “Insult
Comic” (B/b); Tina Fey
W Dec. 7 Catch up and review for final exam
*Final Exam will be on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
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