November Focus: Humor+Satire+Parody= Humody!

This month at the Writer's Blog, we begin a joyful romp through that delightful genre: comedy. But we're going to spin it slightly to my personal pet form of humor and comedy: parody and satire. I like to call this kind of humor: Humody. (what do you mean, 'that's not funny!' I know it's not funny. It's not supposed to be funny. It's just sort of cute...never mind. Pay attention!)

Parody can trip up some would-be writers. Parody or satire takes a ordinary, serious subject and pokes gentle (or not so gentle) fun at it. The trick is to find the weak spots in a subject, or the parts that are taken far too seriously and make jest at them. Satire-Parody or Humody is black comedy, film noir, mock-ups all mixed up in a fruit salad of humor.

We begin with a piece I wrote myself. I just shared in my social writer's network, Web Writer's that I was too embarrassed to share my own stuff. And then I thought, 'oy vey' what have I got to lose? A reputation? Nah...

So for this chilly potentially wet and unpleasant month of November, let's enjoy the lite side of life!

5 Reasons Why You Don't Need DSL
Whimsical but relevant overview of DSL. Reason One: Being able to use the phone and internet simultaneously? What? No more battles over who needs the phone and who needs the internet? With DSL, we can call and surf at the same time? No more missed calls? No more yelling at the kids to get off the net so I can talk to a prospective employer? Now while I admit that the screaming, swearing and arguing may get a little tedious and most of the household furnishings get destroyed in the daily fistfights, is peace at any price really worth it? How important are those calls anyway? We'd just find something else to fight over. Sanity and is pretty overrated anyway. And don't forget how much money you save on dial-up; enough to replace one broken window at least?

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Theater of the Absurd: Comedy Plays and Films

Top 10 Comedy of the Absurd Plays and Movies
Do you like parody, spoofs, satire, black comedy and silly, nonsensical humor? Then you will like these comedy of the absurd books, movies, plays and stories.
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How to Write an Ad Campaign Jingle or Slogan

How to Write an Ad Campaign Slogan or Jingle
A jingle, in advertising vernacular, is a catchy phrase or slogan, set to a cheerful tune. The jingle ideally becomes associated with the product. Consumers world-wide, the manufacturer hopes, will remember the jingle and buy the product.
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Mystery Writing Story Starters~ The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

Inspire and Enthrall Students with the Mysteries of Harris Burdick
Need a mystery story starter? Want to hold your students spellbound? Explore the work of Chris Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick! Great mystery writing prompts for all ages!
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Hitchhiker's Guide to Time Travel AKA~ My Literary Venture into Parody

What to Do If You Are Warped into WoW, Runescape or other Medieval MMORPG
An overly cautious historian with a vivid imagination offers up-to- the-minute practical advice for anyone inadvertently or purposely traveling through time, especially to the middle ages.

We were in the computer lab at the high school I was subbing in the other day. Those with assignments finished were allowed to play, surf or listen to music. I had been helping a student who loves fantasy to locate some books and I noticed he was playing an online medieval game in which he virtually had to leech a patient, remove an arrow and attend to a plague pustule. I'm glad to report that Eowyn (I'll call him that) was able to complete these tasks.

But I got to thinking, and worrying, what if one of these times he's not so lucky, and this game warps him into 1349? What will he do then? I mean yes, he cauterized the node wound properly and remembered to gather up his leeches after the bleeding. But how would he fare if a tesserae occurred? I'm sure that his limited apothecary's knowledge would be woefully inadequate. As an amateur historian and professional worrier, I think about these things.

So I've assembled a little self-help brochure; call it a 'Hitchhiker's Guide to Time Travel' if you will, just in case any of you find yourself in Northumbria in oh say, the mid 14th century with nary a word of middle English or a farthing to bless yourself with.

Do not drink the water: This single precaution could save your life. Oh you may have read about how clean things were before industrial waste. But let me remind you that these people thought nothing of dumping feces, entrails, garbage, cadavers (animals and human) and chamber pots into the local watershed. See my point?

Find some rags or other locally produced garments to slip on. Levi's might pass as some foreign raiment, but you will not be well received in your studded belt, logoed hoodie etc. And for goodness sake get rid of any piercings! Do you want to be mistaken for a slave or some animal of burden? Or a witch. If you're not careful they will use that tongue, cartilage or nose ring to yoke you to some medieval mode of conveyance and you'll be pulling a cart with your lip. And that's if you're lucky and they don't burn you at the stake. (why do that call it that?)

Trust your nose: If it smells bad, it is. Refrigeration was unheard of, washing was considered possibly satanic, food was left open to vermin, animals, heat, dust and other things it would be better not to think about. Bring a Balance bar or just resolve to shed a few pounds and do some penance in the form of fasting.

If a man says he will kill you, believe him. This is not a figure of speech. Death was a daily occurrence and vengeance was expected. So don't mess with anyone's ox, ass or wife if you want to get back to dear old future. After all, we are so much more civilized, don't you think.

Beware of men selling potions. The magic elixirs of the traveling minstrels and their ilk could easily be water from the local ditch or silver nitrate. Noxious substances were available but not understood. Do not rub anything on any body part or drink anything, no matter how much longevity or 'staying power' it promises.

Keep a 21st century gadget with you. A lighter, LED flashlight, phone, may frighten off footpads who would rob you and hurt you. But don't show off; you'll be taken to the sheriff, magistrate or exorcist as a heretic, necromancer or devil worshipper (how else could you control the forces of nature?).

  

This little guide just might save your life some day!