A few weeks ago I happened to catch The History of the Joke With Lewis Black (which seems to have originally been titled "The Greatest Joke Ever Told With Lewis Black" - which makes more sense as the show contained very little history). About halfway through the show I began to think about the relationship between comedy and Steven Pinker's theories on the nature of obscenities.
Long-story-short: I've come to the conclusion that in order for a joke to be truly funny, it should contain as many of Pinker's "categories of obscenity" as possible. Here's what I'm talking about:
A Black, Baptist minister is walking through the park when he spots a woman pushing a baby-carriage. He walks up to the woman and says, "M'am, may I have a look your little bundle of joy?" and sticks his head inside the carriage only to recoil in horror and shout, Sweet Jeeeeeesus, that is one fugly baby!" Steadying himself, the minister looks at the women and says, “I'm sorry, lady. But that is the homeliest infant I have ever seen, and I have baptized some pretty hideous babies. What does the baby's father have to say about the way it looks?"
Angered by the ministers remarks, the woman fires back; “There is no father! I'm a Lesbian, and my baby was conceived through artificial insemination." The mister stands silent, stroking his chin and thinking for a minute, and then says, “Now I finally understand what the Good Book really means when it says ‘Spare the rod; spoil the child.'"
That's a good joke because it contains a reference to a deity, outsider groups (Blacks and Lesbians!), and sex. The only way that it could've possibly been funnier would have been if a hobo would've wandered over and shit in the carriage: because shit and hobos are hilarious.
Your take-away from all of that should be that any joke can be improved by applying any of Pinker's categories: even the most unfunny jokes of all time – the jokes that appeared on Dixie Riddle Cups.
Not Funny:
Gaylord: Hey dad, how do you catch a squirrel?
Dad: I don't know, son. How do you catch a squirrel?
Gaylord: Climb up a tree, and act like a nut!
Dad: Haha. That's hilarious.
Funny:
Gaylord: Hey dad, how do you catch a squirrel?
Dad: Shut up; and keep sucking.
Funnier:
Gaylord: Hey dad, how do you catch a squirrel?
Dad: Why?
Gaylord: Why what?
Dad: Why would you want to catch a squirrel? You're not gonna try to fuck it, are you?
Gaylord: No dad; it's a riddle.
Dad: Jesus Spoolge-Rag Christ! The only riddle around her is which hobo your mother was banging took a shit in our garage.
I rest my case.
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