Monday, April 6, 2009

Analogies

Ideas can be a difficult thing to explain. Especially, if it is an idea that is new which no one has heard of before. Even if this new idea happens to be a good one, you can sound pretty stupid if you do not think it through, word for word. Sometimes if you write or type your new idea out, this can help clear not only your thoughts, but also the listener's interpretation of your thoughts. However, even words have their limitations in the explanation process. I am sure everyone has been in a situation where someone, maybe their boss, teacher, preacher, parent, or friend has tried to reiterate an idea and it just does not come out clean. This person might of used the right words and tone, but because of the difference in perception due to different life events, you just cannot grasp the same viewpoint. 

This is where the power of analogies come in. When I have trouble relaying an idea to my friends due to a "lost in translation", I always use an analogy to help explain my idea. Works every time. Using a simple concept or story that everyone is familiar with, establishes a sense of familiarity and understanding. Without analogies, communication has a missing link as a result from different life events and thinking patterns; but with analogies, that missing link is connected through familiarity. See, I just used one to explain my idea...

One of the best examples of analogies in practice is Jim Breuer's bit on alcohol. Although most people are already familiar with alcohol and its aftermath effects, Breuer uses an analogy to further explain the process of drinking.

First, Breuer starts off by saying, "People never learn when to quit drinking. If you don't want to get sick, it's very simple. There is an easy analogy for everybody: next time you go drinking, you have to remember, it's like having a party. But, the party is in your stomach. The stomach is the bouncer, he's the door guy. You don't want to annoy him." This is how Breuer sets up the joke, with an analogy of a party scene. Nearly everyone has been at a party and most have been a host of one. So, as the joke continues, people get a better understanding of Jim Breuer's  idea of how the stomach and alcohol mix and mingle. 

Beer is the first alcohol invited to the stomach, or in Breuer's story, beer is the first group of friends invited to the party. "People find out about parties, so does other liquor." With this comment, people can also relate with the story, because occasionally at parties, there are people, in your opinion, that should not have been invited. This creates tension between you and the person/persons. This same idea correlates with booze. Once you start mixing different alcohol, that is when tension and uneasiness settle in. The viewer apprehends this theory as Breuer introduces Scotch, Jagermeister, Sambuca, Soki, and eventually Tequila. Breuer puts on an accent accordingly to each alcohol to further embellish his act. For Scotch, he acts Scottish. For Saki, he acts Japanese. And for Tequila, he acts Hispanic. When it came to Tequila, the door guy was hesitant in letting him in because of what Tequila has done at prior parties. Drinkers tend to share the same feelings on this, at least I do when it comes to Tequila. At first, I try to deny the shot; but with all my buddies egging me on, peer pressure tends to supercede. I, like most tequila drinkers, often regret that one shot because it is always followed by several more. The door guy also becomes regretful for letting Tequila in the party because of what happens later on.  

With all the heavy stress and tension, the stomach has had enough. There is no solution other than kicking everyone out of the house. This analogy is an explanation of why we throw-up after drinking too much of different alcohol. Maybe if the booze was all from the same group, the stomach wouldn't have to throw it all up. And maybe if the door guy only let in the one group of friends, instead of the whole neighborhood, he wouldn't have to kick everyone out either.

Analogies are used more often than people think. The only trick is how to use an analogy the right way. I believe Jim Breuer's story was a perfect analogy for stating his idea on alcohol and the stomach.  


        

3 comments:

  1. Haha, that's funny, except maybe the bouncer is a democrat and a firm believer of affirmative action? Hm? Bodily organs could have political affiliations and views as well.

    Anyway, I also believe that analogies are helpful, especially in humor because people from a different background may not have been exposed to the situations that set up certain jokes. Because of this they can't relate and don't find the joke funny.

    I've also noticed the ability analogies can have for foreigners. By knowing a bit about their culture you can create a scenario that they can envision and thus include them in whatever you're discussing.

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  2. This is a good blog on something that shows up in stand up comedy routines often. I think it would have been fun to take more of a focus on how an analogy can directly relate to the success of a joke. There are certain guidelines in my own mind that analogies must adhere to to be laughable. They must be clear with direct correlation, they must be somewhat preposterous or comical in the choice to use that object or symbolism, etc.

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  3. Analogies are a great tool in comedy! I love listening to a story or an analogy that I can relate to and that is exactly what Jim and other great comedians do.

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