Blog 3

Shaggy Dog stories: 

In the “giant panda” joke, the concept of ‘significance’ is most prominent because the punch line is a play on words. In the joke, the panda eats a meal, shoots other dinners, and leaves. When the maître d’ asks why, the panda tells him to “look it up.” When the sheriff looks up “giant panda” the results say a panda “eats shoots and leaves.” The punch line is a play on words because the words used can have two different meanings. “Shoots” and “leaves” is supposed to refer to the types of plants the panda eats in the wild; however “shoots” can also refer to an act of violence involving a gun and bullets. Likewise, “leaves” refers to the act of moving from one location to another. Finally is the aspect of grammar. The giant panda “eats shoots and leaves” (describing its diet), while this panda “eats, shoots, and leaves” (has a meal, uses a gun and walks away). All this relates to ‘significance’ because of the multiple meanings that have been assigned to each word. Listeners are able to hear the words, determine their meanings and reapply them back to the given situation (the set-up of the joke). Because of this understood duality the joke is corny, but still manages to make sense.  

Building tools are applicable in Shaggy Dog stories because they can all be exercised somehow.

Questions someone can ask to figure out how Gee’s tools apply include “what is so special about the punch line and “how does this relate to society?” Jokes like “only Hugh can prevent florist friars” is highly rooted in a certain social context (intertextuality) because only those who are familiar with Smokey the Bear’s catch phrase would understand the reference.

Many of these jokes have lengthy setups. This is probably because to make the punch line work just the right way, all the elements have to be put into place. The long setup is required for the panda joke, because the teller needs to go out of his/her way to avoid using the words “eats” “shoots” and “leaves” prematurely as to not spoil the punch line. So when we find out the panda “eats, shoots, and leaves” it doesn't seem redundant. This is true for the other jokes as well. The relationship between the teller and readers also relies heavily on intertextuality becasue of the use of grammar in the joke. People who understand the proper use of commas, and how comma usage can change the meaning of a sentence completely, will find the joke funnier and easier to understand than people who do not.

(Group partner: Amy G.)

Question: Why does the joke work?


When looking at the Knot joke and comparing it to Gee’s language tools I find that intertextuality is featured in the joke simply because of it being a bar joke. Social languages can also come into play because most have been in a bar environment so the language in that environment is familiar to most.


Characters:

The Knot: he’s a hard working string who feels he deserves a beer. His goal is to go to a bar that will serve him beer. After the third attempt he knew he had to do something different in order to see if he would be able to get a drink.

The Bartenders: the first three bartenders turned him down by telling the string “I’m sorry we don’t serve strings here”. He goes back into the last bar he went to and after being tied at a bow he attempted to get a beer. The bartender then asked, “Aren’t you the same string that came in here a few minutes ago?”

The Passerby: the passerby didn’t give him a hard time at all when he was asked by the string to tie him up into a bow. He didn't question the string as to why he wanted to be tied. He just simply did the string a favor of tying him into a bow.

Punch line: when the string says, “Nope, I’m a frayed knot”


Intertextually: I believe that this joke would fall in the intertextuality category because in today’s society everyone is familiar with bar jokes. When the beginning starts off with “So a ... walks into a bar” you automatically know it’s a joke. It’s set the mood and setting because most people are able to create their own bar setting in their minds. The beginning of the joke is a well know text that is known by many. It like Gee would say is a very recognizable quote.

Social Language: I think because of the setting being in a bar social language has a part in this joke as well. Most people have been in a bar environment so they can in a way envision their personal experiences with bar crowds. Some have their bar that they often go to and can walk up, grab a chair, and say, "hey bartender I need a beer". We have a certain way of speaking when we go to a bar depending on if its a new one or just a regular bar we go to.


I believe shaggy dog jokes work because majority of us are familiar with or understand the punch lines. So depending on the joke we can relate it to any of Gee's language tools. If its a big c conversation it will be a topic familiar to the public. If its intertextuality it will have a text that familiar to the public. If it has the social language feature the text will consist of a certain way we speak in certain environments.

Blog 2

In your own words, define analysis  What is it? How does it work? Describe how you might use analysis and Gee's building tasks to study one of the areas of interest you mentioned in your first blog.

To me, 'analysis' is making sense of a concept, whether it is new to you or a new way of looking at something you're already familiar with. It is also trying to determine how or why something works. Analysis is the active form of learning.  Analysis works by taking the information, and breaking down its components so that we can assess and explore its aspects and characteristics. This is done by making note of aspects that interest you, or making a list of observations and asking those "why" or "how" questions and setting out to find the answers. In reference to Gee's list of building tasks, I've noted that 'significance' 'identities' and 'connections' are the most applicable when conducting research. Significance is used in analysis when a new idea is introduced. When introduced to a new idea, the individual must determine what this information means to them. So in reference to my first blog, I identified the differences between book and movie, and determined that the differences are meaningful to me. Therefore, I must ask "why" are these differences significant to me? (Because I am passionate about reading.) 'Identities,' which refers to the identity we take on as writers and speakers, can also relate to the interpretation of the information presented, which is why literature can be understood so many different ways. The way we write, analyze and research is also a reflection of who we are as people. Finally 'connections' refer to the meaning we attached to what we take in from our world, as well as what we interpret, learn or gather during research and analysis.

Blog 1

What kind of writing studies research are you interested in?


I'm not too sure what "writing studies research" means, but if I'm going to interpret it as what do I think i might want to write my research paper about. In light of this, I ws thinking I might want to research cinematic interpretations of books. MAinly, why are movie adaptaitions of books changed so drastically from their original forms. This is not to include the exclusion of certain sections for time's sake. This mainly refers to why major changes are applied to the plot. An exaple of this, which I would plan to use, would be the book/movie versions of "My Sister's Keeper." In the book, the sick siter lives (excuse any spoilers) and the healthy sister dies in a car accident. However, in the movie the sick sister dies and the healthy sister reapirs her relationship with her mother and continues to live. My main interst lies in why the directors would change the plot so throughly. The cinematic experience has become increasingly mundane; every movie follows a particular pattern. Movies have beome predicatble.  I suppose this is becasue the audienc expects it, and for fear of poor box office results, do not stray from the formula. Books, on the other hand, are written as the writer sees fit. Books can be shocking, insulting, and unique. Why wouldn't a director try to break new ground and go for the kill? this is what I would research for my paper. however, if the question is asking what I want to do with my field of interest, the simple answer to that would be: proofreading/editing. i've heard proof reading is a good stepping stone.