A (mostly) verbal analysis
From Screenpedia
Each student will select a half-hour TV comedy and analyze its use of humor. Elements of the analysis include:
- Recaps (short summaries of the plots) of five episodes.
- Post to your Blackboard journal. Due each week, starting October 11th.
- Identification of the show's narrative problematic.
- Discuss how it plays out in two specific episodes (using the recaps for reference)
- Discussion of specific examples of theories of humor: superiority, relief/release, and incongruity
- Explain the theories of humor first and then provide at least two examples for each theory
- Use the analysis of Modern Family in The Sitcom as a model for analysis.
- Present your findings to the class during the week before Thanksgiving (11/15 and 11/17).
- Collect your findings into a 1,500-word essay and submit it via Blackboard/TurnItIn. Due Tuesday, 11/18, 11:59 p.m.
- Worth 45 points.