Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Hello everybody! I know this video is VERY different from what I usually put up on this channel, but I really wanted to post it here regardless since I worked REALLY hard on this project and I’m also really proud of how it turned out! This is more like a one off thing, so don’t expect me to be churning out content like this regularly XD. It was more like a challenge for myself to see what other types of videos I could make and how effectively/efficiently I could plan the whole thing out and execute it! This project was super fun to work on! I encourage everyone to experiment a bit out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves every once in a while :D.

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IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! My professor gave me feedback on my assignment (I did get an A :D) and I was informed that the "jokes" themselves could be considered flouting, but the characters themselves technically aren't actually flouting the maxims. Because the whole sketch is based on the premise that the people have FORGOTTEN how to observe proper maxims, they are VIOLATING the maxims, not really flouting them! Sorry for the confusion! But anyways, onto the analysis!

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Comedy Sketch Analysis:

As promised in the video, here is a more in-depth analysis/ breakdown of each maxim flouted in the comedy sketch and why it’s humorous:

In the first scenario of the comedy sketch, the maxim of relevance is flouted when person B abruptly switches the topic to talk about the weather, instead of engaging in the uncomfortable conversational topic person A started with (dropping out of college). This subversion of expectation is so dramatic, especially considering the context of the situation (being in the basement of a building in a classroom with no windows) which perfectly fits Kant’s incongruity theory.

In the second scenario, person B has been so deprived of conversation over the corse of quarantine that they immediately burst out in a flurry of words (going into way too much detail in an extremely un-orderly and drawn-out monologue), flouting both maxims of quantity and manner. Way too much stuff, and way too confusing. In addition to the contents of the sentence itself, it takes so many twists and turns that subverts expectations of a normal conversation, and we end up with a rather humorous interaction that once again lines up with the incongruity theory.

In the third scenario, the exact same maxims of quantity and manner are flouted; only this time, it is exaggerated in the complete opposite direction. In this scenario, person B gives very little substance in a very ambiguous way that a conversation becomes nearly impossible to maintain unless person one takes the reigns and just goes off on a monologue. In combination with the stark contrast of how cooperative person B is in their head, this subversion of expectation creates the dissonance needed to complete the punchline that delivers the humor.

And finally, in our last scenario, person B flouts the maxim of quality which states that one must only speak what they know is true and have evidence for. Person B flouts this maxim multiple times in their flurry of panic from an anticipated fist bump from their friend, person A. No, a fist bump transmission isn’t as deadly as walking around without a mask on, no, they wouldn’t be “as good as dead”, and no, the things that poke out of the corona virus are not meant for rolling around, although fun fact those things are a big part of what makes the virus so deadly! Regardless, these crazy expressions and ideas brought up in the conversation subverts the audience’s expectations for a normal and truthful conversation and creates a humorous interaction.

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Audio recorded with Samson Meteor Mic through GarageBand
All art made using Procreate
Edited with DaVinci Resolve [free version]

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Songs Used:
youtu.be/eSOV2Zo_J1A
youtu.be/tEGWROi1gKQ

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Ciao! *^,^