HRWiki:Running gag

From Homestar Runner Wiki

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
m (de-break UL)
(only need one of these shortcuts; they are now functionally identical)
 
(includes 13 intermediate revisions)
Line 1: Line 1:
:''A WikiProject to discover (or rediscover) the definition of a running gag, and what to do with topic-unifying articles that aren't''.
:''A WikiProject to discover (or rediscover) the definition of a running gag, and what to do with topic-unifying articles that aren't''.
-
{{clear}}
+
==Definition==
-
<div id="shortcut" style="border: 1px dashed blue; margin: 0em 1em 0em 1em; text-align: center; padding:5px; float: right; clear: both;">
+
{{shortcut|RG}}
-
Shortcut:<br />[[HRWiki:RG]]</div>
+
-
A '''[[Running Gags|running gag]]''' may have several definitions and requirements:
+
A '''[[running gag]]''' may have several definitions and requirements:
-
*A running gag is an amusing situation or line that constantly reappears throughout the site. Often the repetition of the running gag is exactly what makes it so humorous.
+
*A running gag is an amusing situation or line that constantly reappears throughout the site. Often the repetition of the running gag is exactly what makes it so humorous. <small>([[Running Gags]])</small>
-
*A running gag is like an [[Inside Jokes|inside joke]], only bigger in scope.
+
*The running gag is a popular hallmark of comic and serious forms of entertainment. A running gag is an amusing situation or line that reappears throughout the work. They are often [[Wikipedia:Unintentional humor|unintentional]] at first, but familiarity or popularity of such gags among viewers encourage their reappearance. Often, the humor in a running gag derives entirely from how often it is repeated. <small>([[Wikipedia:Running gag|Wikipedia]])</small>
 +
*A running gag is like an [[inside joke]], only bigger in scope.
**Its appearances are connected or may refer to its previous appearances.
**Its appearances are connected or may refer to its previous appearances.
**There may be an underlying ''trigger'' that kicks off the joke and future appearances of it.
**There may be an underlying ''trigger'' that kicks off the joke and future appearances of it.
Line 13: Line 13:
*A running gag is a simple comedic element that recurs.
*A running gag is a simple comedic element that recurs.
*An inside joke is something that's not funny unless one knows what it's referring to. A running gag is something that's funny per se, but is funnier if one knows it's been done many times before on the site.
*An inside joke is something that's not funny unless one knows what it's referring to. A running gag is something that's funny per se, but is funnier if one knows it's been done many times before on the site.
 +
**However, to someone familiar with the recurring element but not with what it refers to, an inside joke's appearance can be funny based solely on the absurdity of its recurrence. The laughter is not at the unknown reference, but at the ''incongruity'' of the element in context.
 +
 +
There are many articles in the [[:Category:Running Gags|running gag category]], however, that unify a certain topic, subject, or idea which is used as a foil for making jokes. These articles are more like compilations of many unrelated jokes or just plain appearances that have the same topic. Future discussion will decide which articles these are, what they will be called, and what will be done with them.
 +
 +
==What to do==
 +
 +
Since questionable running gags are simply lists of appearances, they should be counted as such. For simplicity, the articles should be put into subcategories in [[:Category:Lists]] in the same way they are put into subcategories in [[:Category:Running Gags]]. Such categories could be called:
 +
 +
*[[:Category:General activity appearance lists]]
 +
*[[:Category:General clothing appearance lists]]
 +
*[[:Category:General electronic appearance lists]]
 +
*[[:Category:General exaggeration appearance lists]]
 +
*[[:Category:General food appearance lists]]
 +
*[[:Category:General Homestar Runner appearance lists]] (needs possible rename if fake RGs can be found)
 +
*[[:Category:General name appearance lists]]
 +
*[[:Category:General object appearance lists]]
 +
*[[:Category:General prank appearance lists]]
 +
*[[:Category:General Strong Bad Email appearance lists]] (needs possible rename if fake RGs can be found)
 +
*[[:Category:General word appearance lists]]
 +
 +
(Note that then names for the categories might change.)
 +
 +
[[Category:Community Projects|{{PAGENAME}}]]

Current revision as of 00:41, 4 June 2008

A WikiProject to discover (or rediscover) the definition of a running gag, and what to do with topic-unifying articles that aren't.

[edit] Definition

Shortcut:
HRW:RG

A running gag may have several definitions and requirements:

  • A running gag is an amusing situation or line that constantly reappears throughout the site. Often the repetition of the running gag is exactly what makes it so humorous. (Running Gags)
  • The running gag is a popular hallmark of comic and serious forms of entertainment. A running gag is an amusing situation or line that reappears throughout the work. They are often unintentional at first, but familiarity or popularity of such gags among viewers encourage their reappearance. Often, the humor in a running gag derives entirely from how often it is repeated. (Wikipedia)
  • A running gag is like an inside joke, only bigger in scope.
    • Its appearances are connected or may refer to its previous appearances.
    • There may be an underlying trigger that kicks off the joke and future appearances of it.
    • It has to be the same joke, or similar enough in premise.
  • A running gag is a simple comedic element that recurs.
  • An inside joke is something that's not funny unless one knows what it's referring to. A running gag is something that's funny per se, but is funnier if one knows it's been done many times before on the site.
    • However, to someone familiar with the recurring element but not with what it refers to, an inside joke's appearance can be funny based solely on the absurdity of its recurrence. The laughter is not at the unknown reference, but at the incongruity of the element in context.

There are many articles in the running gag category, however, that unify a certain topic, subject, or idea which is used as a foil for making jokes. These articles are more like compilations of many unrelated jokes or just plain appearances that have the same topic. Future discussion will decide which articles these are, what they will be called, and what will be done with them.

[edit] What to do

Since questionable running gags are simply lists of appearances, they should be counted as such. For simplicity, the articles should be put into subcategories in Category:Lists in the same way they are put into subcategories in Category:Running Gags. Such categories could be called:

(Note that then names for the categories might change.)

Retrieved from "http://hrwiki.org/wiki/HRWiki:Running_gag"
Personal tools