Wordplay
The Tiny Switch That Turns a Phrase into a Pun
Learn how to write a pun with a clear first reading and a well-cued second meaning, using sound, context and careful…
The reading room
All pieces
Browse pieces on satire, parody, wordplay, visual comedy and comic writing. Each takes one comic idea at a time and gives it room to unfold.
Satire
Satire and Parody: Two Different Targets
Satire and parody use different comic targets: learn how to spot critique, imitation and their overlap, then choose…
Visual Comedy
How Comic Cartoons Moved from Print to Stage
Trace how comic cartoons moved from printed pages into live performance, and see how reproduction, scale and timing…
Comic Writing
The Exaggeration Trap: When a Comic Character Gets Too Much
Learn how comic character exaggeration can blur a personality, and use one consistent contradiction to make a…
Visual Comedy
A Rainy-Day Picture Game for Finding Visual Gags
A rainy-day picture game builds playful captions from everyday objects, giving families a simple indoor activity with…
Our point of view
Comedy rewards a second look
A joke can entertain and make us notice something at the same time. We explore how comic choices work without insisting that laughter has only one explanation.