The Humor Code

The Humor Code

Peter Mcgraw & Joel Warner

Takeaways

• It’s not whether or not your funny, It’s what kind of funny you are. Be honest and authentic.
• It helps to be an outsider. Be skeptical, analytical, rebellious.
• Since most things aren’t funny, come up with a lot of ideas.
• Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. It signals everything is okay and lets others laugh too.
• Good comedy is a conspiracy. Create an in-group with those you want to get the joke.
• Laughter has momentum. Get the guffaws going as quickly as you can.
• Complicated comedy is subjective, but bare bones humor is universal. Keep it simple.
• Context matters. Nobody will laugh if they don’t know what your talking about.
• Know your audience. Making something broadly appealing often kills the funny.
• Making things funny means nearly going over the line. Learn to be a comedic tightrope artist so you don’t go too far.
• No topic is off limit. It’s just a matter of finding the right way to make the violations benign.
• The best comedy turns the world upside down. Make fun of yourself before others get the change to do so.
• Laughter is disarming. Make light of the stuff everyone’s worried about and you’ll negate its power
• Comedy signals an escape from the world. Create a safe, playful space where folks are free to laugh.
• Jokes can be a coping mechanism. Don’t be afraid to kid around about the harsh realities of life.