Now, let's take a look at an example:
More IGN Originals Videos
Videos like this are funny because assumptions are made about the target audience and experiences that they might have had.
If you are part of the "gamer culture" you have likely been in a situation like one of the ones that were depicted. Getting that one last multiplayer match in before finally going to bed at the crack of dawn? Been there. Blaming outside influences for major "suckitude"? Done that. And of course there's the occasional crack that girls can't play video games.
Even if you are not part of the culture that is the intended audience, there is still a chance that you are familiar enough with it that you would be able to get the joke. And that's what it's all about. Being in on the joke. That's why it's funny. It invites the audience to experience the joke and feel clever because they know from experience or through other secondhand sources.
This joke relies on commonplaces. Things that people share in their niche and their culture. And it's funny. Perhaps I can even go so far as to say that it is funny because we all share certain aspects of our lives with other people and that these jokes help to reveal the "human condition".
`V
PS. Similarly, there is a website called tvtropes.org, which is endlessly entertaining exactly because you know the commonplaces that the various articles describe and it is fun seeing examples given in movies, tv shows, books, etc.
Videos like this are funny because assumptions are made about the target audience and experiences that they might have had.
If you are part of the "gamer culture" you have likely been in a situation like one of the ones that were depicted. Getting that one last multiplayer match in before finally going to bed at the crack of dawn? Been there. Blaming outside influences for major "suckitude"? Done that. And of course there's the occasional crack that girls can't play video games.
Even if you are not part of the culture that is the intended audience, there is still a chance that you are familiar enough with it that you would be able to get the joke. And that's what it's all about. Being in on the joke. That's why it's funny. It invites the audience to experience the joke and feel clever because they know from experience or through other secondhand sources.
This joke relies on commonplaces. Things that people share in their niche and their culture. And it's funny. Perhaps I can even go so far as to say that it is funny because we all share certain aspects of our lives with other people and that these jokes help to reveal the "human condition".
`V
PS. Similarly, there is a website called tvtropes.org, which is endlessly entertaining exactly because you know the commonplaces that the various articles describe and it is fun seeing examples given in movies, tv shows, books, etc.
These types of jokes are always the best and the worst at the same time. Like you said, they rely on commonplaces. I'm not a big gamer (the extent my commonplaces include perfecting workouts on Wii Fit and getting annoyed when people interrupt a quality game of Fruit Ninja), so while I didn't find these too funny - there are probably some gamers out there laughing themselves to tears.
ReplyDeleteI do get a kick out of (and understand) the political jokes/comics. However, someone with little knowledge (especially a lack of up to date knowledge) wouldn't find funny.
It does depend on the audience entirely. Sometimes I read memes and have no idea what the joke is, but my roommate (who is relatively similar to me in interests at face value) will be able to explain it to me; sometimes, though, she doesn't get them either.
ReplyDeleteLike Sarah, I would not consider myself to be a "gamer," but some of the jokes did evoke a giggle or two because I'm familiar enough to recognize the commonplaces that I identify from my younger siblings who are constantly playing video games.