Incongruous juxtaposition theory is an overly academic way of saying people find it funny when they suddenly realize an object or concept is out of place.
Seinfeld does this masterfully:
“Why does everyone talk on the phone like the person on the other phone is trapped in a submarine on the ocean floor? “You’re breaking up … hang on …!” “Breaking up?” What is this, Apollo 13? You’re at the mall, take it easy. You’re talking to somebody at the food court Cinnabon … that you can see from the escalator as you’re coming down.”
Jerry takes the concept “phone” and makes absurdly light connections to “submarine”, “Apollo 13” and a mall environment. It’s funny because it’s unexpected.
A mind map is a great way to find connections. It’s also a fun exercise. Here’s one I did today, using the pedestrian word, “lamp”.
I’m not going to embarrass myself by trying to write a joke, but it’s easy to see how it can help to make interesting connections between words and concepts.
For example, “a semi-literate Steve Jobs trying to read the Bible in complete darkness” is not a competent joke, but the concept is certainly not a cliché. More importantly, it expands the mind.
