Our class work to day was to analyze a set of shaggy dog stories, which are essentially story jokes. In our analysis we looked at features of the jokes within four categories: overall organization; features of language use; the kinds of cultural knowledge the demanded of their audience; and how these jokes connect to other genres. Below is a general description of what these jokes "did" in terms of each of the categories.
Overall organization (where 'things' occur): The jokes were organized as stories (see connections to other genres) = long-winded stories where seemingly meaningless details came together at the end for a punchline. More specifically we noticed that the terms for the punchline were introduced (sometimes in sequence) early in the story, though (sometimes) not using the exact word that would "reveal" the punchline. All stories had a beginning which set the scene (a dramatic context) and established characters (though some characters, such as Hugh McTaggart, were introduced later as the 'plot' developed); a middle which developed the story's conflict (the need to: stop the florist friars, discover why the panda did what he did; make a decision about which bear to shoot, etc), and a conclusion where a set of quirky elements from the development are resolved in a pun/punchline which can be interpreted multiple ways. Some stories included repetitions (rule of 3, see genres) as a mechanism for development. Dialog was used frequently in the development, and sometimes for the punchline.
Language use: The presentations of elements in the punchline were the most important features of language use. The punchline terms were often presented in a "disguised" form - often as proper names(Czechoslovakian for 'check'; Hugh for 'you') - always in some form which allowed for a "double" interpretation. Sometimes the pun rested on transliteration (as in 'friars' /'fiars'); sometimes the use of words that sounded the same but had different meanings (male/mail; a frayed/afraid) and sometimes on having the words transposed (Thank Friday it's God => Thank God it's Friday). Often language required specialized knowledge/associations (connotations) on the part of the listener in order to get the joke.
Cultural knowledge: We identified a wide range of assumptions, values and beliefs that listeners would need to be familiar with in order to "get" these jokes. These included knowledge of: the "scene" for getting denied a "beer" either because of dress or identity (no ID); stereotypes for lawyers; the weirdness of who might walk into a restaurant in NYC; etc. Belonging to an identity/group where members have the knowledge assumed for the joke (someone who has been denied a drink; someone who tells lawyer jokes/'hates' lawyers; someone who has spent time in NYC) - identifies you as someone who will (might) "get" this the joke. Being a member of a group with a particular set of assumptions, values, and beliefs - necessarily connect to particular ways of talking/representing yourself - and may (or may not) identify you as belonging to a Discourse community (according to Swales).
Perhaps the most important discourse (way of using language) this joke needed you to know about - was shaggy dog story discourse => what we are describing here. If you didn't understand how the jokes "work" (how they use language and for what purposes) they may just seem bizarre.
Connections to other genres: Their form draws from multiple genres (groups of language forms which have a core set of similar features). Some of the genres they draw from are:
oral story telling: they rely on puns/sound differences for their meaning
folkstories - they have a beginning, middle and end; they often include "fantastic" or "typical" characters; the often use repetition/the rule of 3, they draw from plots found in these stories such as the "swallowed whole" motif),
jokes - they have a punchline, they use wordplay, they are often passive-agressive (someone is "put down, or made to look less-than-upstanding) - or knowledge of a whole genre of jokes => such as lawyer jokes
print texts/famous books - the "Thank Friday, it's God" joke used characters from Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, a classic from the British literary canon (one of the first novels); the Panda joke may have derived from the writing handbook Eats, Shoots & Leaves (or it may be the other way around).
So, read back through your notes, and see what you can do in terms of identifying the "features" of shaggy dog joke discourse.
For next class:
If you have not turned in both the print copy, or the link=> make sure I get them. You need NIH documentation of triaing to begin your research.
As I mentioned in class, we will be catching up on our missed day - and hopefully will be back in sync with the calendar by the end of next week. Keep thinking about what you might like to do for a research project. I will set up conferences with each of you with a sign-up list next week. Your blog posts sound like you have lots of awesome ideas.
Read: Swales
Blog 3: Identify and define (in your own words) any the terms we have been developing for use in language analysis. The point here is not necessarily to be correct (this is not a test), rather it is to give me a chance to see what you are thinking/learning and supply language/direction if you want/need it.
Great class today!
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