Welcome to my class

Unit 20 Humour

Questions: 1. What do you think this short film is about? 2. What kind of film is it? 3. Can it be called a comedy? 4. Is the hero a famous comedian?

**Although Mr. Rowan Atkinson (black-haired, bug-eyed, and weak-chinned comedian) acts different comic characters he is most famous around the world as Mr. Bean. Mr. Bean is funny because he makes funny faces, he acts silly, he seems to be quite stupid, and the things he does are strange.

The comic duo of the 1930s “Laurel and Hardy” The comic duo of the 1930s “Laurel and Hardy”. The thin one is called Stan Laurel, the stout one Oliver Hardy. They are funny because they are each other’s opposites: one fat and one thin; one is clever and one is silly etc.

Dustin Hoffman in the film Tootsie (1982) Dustin Hoffman in the film Tootsie (1982). In this film Hoffman acts the role of a woman, and many agree that his performance was so good that you often can’t tell the difference. And in the film of course there are all kinds of funny moments.

Ma Ji is a well-known artist of crosstalk shows in China Ma Ji is a well-known artist of crosstalk shows in China. His crosstalk shows always make his audience shout with laughter.

Charlie Chaplin

Some other famous comedians in China

Question: What forms of humor are introduced in the text? Listening Question: What forms of humor are introduced in the text?

comedies clowns comedians crosstalk shows

Questions 1.Why are some of Shakespeare’s comedies not so funny for us? Because the meaning of words in English has changed.We don’t understand the language and word play that Shakespeare used.

2 Give three examples of techniques that writers of comedies often use to make people laugh. 1 crossdressing 2 stereotypes 3 word play

3.How long has the tradition of crosstalk existed in China? more than 2,000 years.

Skimming True or False

1.Cross-dressing means men dressed up as women and women as men. ( T ) 2.Word play creates fun by using a word or phrase that has two meanings or words having the same sound but different meanings. ( T ) 3.Shakespeare’s plays are no longer funny because English has greatly changed. ( T )

4.Clowns usually make people laugh by what they look and what they do, not by what they say. 5.Clothes, body language, facial expressions and word play are all very important in comedians’ shows. ( F ) 6.As far as we know cross-talk has never been shown by only one comedian or more than two comedians. ( F )

7.Crosstalk can only be found in China and few foreigners know about this Chinese art form. 8.Fluent spoken Chinese is a must for one who intends to be a crosstalk comedian. ( T )

Scanning

How many parts can this passage be divided into How many parts can this passage be divided into? In what ways do they make people laugh?

Comedies make people laugh by cross-dressing men or women appearing on the stage. funny plays with stereotypes of nationalities or people doing certain jobs. Comedies make people laugh by making fun of somebody’s way of dressing. telling an amusing story. playing on words to create fun.

Clowns make people laugh by acting alone or as a pair. not using any words at all. Clowns make people laugh by their clothes, make-up and the way they walk. helping people forget their trouble for at least a moment.

Comedians make people laugh by working alone or as a pair. body language and their face. Comedians make people laugh by acting out a situation called a sketch. playing with words. making people listen and think.

Crosstalk shows make people laugh by playing with words. making many jokes and funny conversations. Crosstalk shows make people laugh by dressing up a little or act-ing out small sketches. creating a rapid flow of fun. using rhythm and rhyming. using tongue twisters.

The shells she sells are seashells, I am sure, She sells sea shells on the seashore. The shells she sells are seashells, I am sure, For if she sells seashells on the seashore, Then I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

Homework Email to a foreign e-pal about Chinese Crosstalk

Thank you

BETTER GRADES The little boy wasn't getting good marks in school BETTER GRADES The little boy wasn't getting good marks in school. One day he made the teacher quite surprised. He tapped her on the shoulder and said... "I don't want to scare you, but my daddy says if I don't get better grades.... somebody is going to get a spanking...."