Abstract
Punchlines are those amazing switcheroos which suddenly appear, as if from nowhere, with no apparent logic, to belittle things-and make us laugh. A punchline can victimize an idea, a reputation, a situation, and most of all, a person, with stunning speed and effectiveness. But, surprisingly, a punchline is not automatically destructive-technically speaking, it appears to be basically a clarifying factor. For some time, I thought of punchlines as the perfect problem-solvers, as stiletto-sharp solutions, able to cut through problematic situations and eliminate them. But that approach just would not work. I could not find any punchlines that could really destroy a problem, actually make a problem go away. Instead, the punchlines invariably found problems, revealed them. To illustrate, let's look at an example-from Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary (1911). Here is Bierce's definition of logic:
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callSimilar Papers
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
