HUMOR IN COMIC STRIPS – A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF NEMI

Humour in Comic Strips:

A pragmatic analysis of Nemi

 

Introduction

            The saying that laughter is the best medicine is considered to be one of the famous sayings in the world. With these, different people especially in the art categories are trying to become as humorous as they can to attract people and to make other people happy. Accordingly, there are different kinds of humours which depend on the medium used. It is considered that humorous texts are the most popular kind of humour which deals with features and social categories which are typical to the societies in the world. There are some humorous texts regarding gender, sex, and age and this can be seen through mediums like books, cartoons and others. On the other hand, there is also humour which is used in comic strips. There are two types of comic strips. This includes the episode strip and the joke-strip. The first is a chapter of a longer narrative strip and the other is a comic situation in which a specific character plays a role and which is published in various magazines or newspapers in a daily basis (2002).

It can be said that the comic strip functions can be the same to that of verbal and written humours or jokes in which themes and strategies are continual. In terms of thematic approach, jokes and comic strips usually address social taboos such as family values, sex and others, social institutions as well as cultural representations like school, church, government and others, human stereotypes such as the stupid, the dumb, liar, foreigner, sexy lady, and others. In addition, some cognitive-linguistic approaches are also shared by comic strips include exploitation of ambiguity and unfitting expectations.  For some comic strip makers, characters usually come first, and then the theme. In this regard, once a specific character is established, with character is chosen or created, with distinct psychological characteristics, thematic strategy will be next. For example, the rebel character of Kevin (Calvin), Hagar’s stupid and rough character, political character of Mafalda and chauvinistic personality of Bibelô who acts in various situations where their personalities can be highlighted, within broad areas of themes. Even if the situation differs for the cartoonists, for the linguists, approaches for creating meaning are the one that matters. In comparing with the comic-strips humours, the character’s reactions are highly predictable (1998), because of their very well-distinguished personality.

            In order to analyse humour, this report will be provided. Primarily, the main goal of this essay is to give a preliminary overview of humour, through the use of comic strips Nemi. This paper will include the discussion on how humour has been used in Nemi. This paper will give focus on how Nemi utilise humour in accordance with text comprehension, humour and the unsaid, politeness and impoliteness, specifically how the character (Nemi)  use politeness.  Furthermore, this paper will attempt to discuss what this tells us about Nemi’s relationships and humour in the character herself. Lastly, this paper will also provide discussion on how the use how the use of politeness and impoliteness varies from character to character, and the reasons for this variations.

 

Description of the Comic Strips: Nemi

            Nemi is a Norwegian comic strip which is created by in 1997. However, the first Nemi strips was first appeared in        in 1999 and its first Nemi strips collection came out during the summer of 2000. The comic strip is about a woman (Nemi) about 25 years of age living in Norway with a very pale skin and always wears black primarily because of her affiliations with Goth objects. The comic strip depicts the outsider status of Nemi within the Norwegian society because of her personality and physical appearance. Nemi is known to be a tough girl with an attitude, she is frank in her opinions and a confrontational individuals. In this study, 10 strips will be chosen to be analysed pragmatically.

 

Comic Strip 1

 

            The first strip has been in a situation where the lead character Nemi has seen a guy while walking on the streets and exchanges their “hi” in a sexy manner. When they passed each other, the two exhaled which shows their true appearance.  In this strip, humour is set through the use of illustrations alone. By exaggerating the feature of the two characters, it gives the reader the perception that a person can do everything just to attract others. In terms of the use of texts, the strip has only used simple words which includes “hi” to show that each character in the strip like each other and “phoo” a word which depicts how the two release the air and show their true body built.

In this strip, the author is said to use logical reasoning in the way she illustrates the characters. In terms of politeness and impoliteness, it can be said that the particular strip have not been able to show these two contexts, since there are not much dialogues used and since the two characters are not really related to each other.  In this comic strip, gender identity is largely seen.

 

Comic Strip 2

 

            In terms of mechanism of the comic strip, it can be said that this particular comic strip uses the satire style, in which the author used to attack the character (Neri). In addition, in terms of text, the author uses direct languages and texts which show the intimacy of the character of the strips. Furthermore, the author has also been able to use simple languages to be understood easily. The comic strip is about two individuals who seem to be dating and find something that attracts the lady’s attention.

It can be said that the comic strip can be easily interpreted because of the logical situations in the strip. In terms of politeness and impoliteness, it can be said that the comic strip seems to use more of impoliteness than politeness. As Nemi ask the opinion of the man regarding the eye glass that she wear and if it makes her smarter, the man answers her in an impolite an indirect manner which is “not really”. This word can be interpreted as a rude response specifically when it comes from a man (1995), talking to a woman who usually needs praises than rude answers.

 

Comic Strip 3

            The comic strip shows a situation where Nemi is dating with a man and she is telling her feelings on the situation. this strip is said to become funnier because of the logical presentation of the theme. The comic strip’s mechanism is somewhat an irony as Nemi is describing the man she is dating ironically. In addition, this comic strip has been able to use parody as the cartoonists exaggerate the appearance of the man Nemi is dating.

In terms of the texts use, the author has used indirect language as Nemi is talking reversely on the man. In addition, this strip is logical as it creates rational thinking on the part of the reader. Herein, politeness contexts have been used, though very little, and it also depicts impoliteness. Accordingly, politeness must be seen as a set of approaches of verbal habits, on which in this case, Nemi judges the man directly.

 

Comic Strip 4

            The mechanism of comic strip is considered to be satire as Nemi tries to attack the blonde woman using rude words and languages. Herein, the author used texts which depicts that some of the characters are not related and close to each other ( in this case, the blonde woman and Nemi). The comic strip is about three girls who are hanging out in a bar, when Nemi (the main character) decided to go home because she cannot be beside a woman who talks things that do not make appeal on her like make-ups. Herein, instead of feeling offended, the blonde woman has reacted reversely as she felt that Nemi praises her.

This is a funny strip since it makes the reader think that the woman is stupid on not knowing the real feeling of Nemi about her. The comic strip uses logical reasoning in line with the notion on how Nemi got so bored, which is because they have different personalities.

 

Comic Strip 5

The mechanism of comic strip is considered to be a humour of the absurd. This is said so because the comic strip have not been able to follow the rules of logic.In addition, the mechanism of the comic strip above is also considered as a farce humour, since it presents Cyan as the victim of the situation. Herein, the author used text which shows the closeness and intimacy of Cyan and Nemi with each other. The humorous texts used is also considered to use organize text to understand completely the conversation between Cyan and Nemi.

The comic strip is about two girls in which one is afraid of spider and the other has the courage to hold the spider (Nemi). In this strip, it can be seen that scared reaction of Cyan as she screamed that there is a spider hanging near her. Since Nemi is fond of spiders she offered Cyan that she can take the spider away in one condition, that is, when the former will give Nemi a chocolate. Cyan did give Nemi a chocolate but she realise the Nemi has put the spider in the bedroom and Nemi offers to take it away, of course with a connotation that she’ll take it in one condition.

This is a funny strip since you can see how Nemi can play with the feelings and emotions of her friends when it came to creepy animals. The comic strip has been able to provide background knowledge from the first strip and logical reasons until the last part of the strip. In terms of politeness, it can be seen that this comic strip has used politeness, in the part of Nemi as she offered to take away the spider and in the part of Cyan as she requests Nemi to take the spider.  

 

Comic Strip 6

 

The mechanism of comic strip is considered to be Parody as the author exaggerated how Nemi reads the book. It can be said that the comic strip have used texts which are long and narrative texts. As can be seen in the strip, Nemi is reading a story to a girl before sleeping. Having an attitude of her own, instead of reading the story as it is, Nemi has created a story out of what she is reading which gets the attention of the girl who is sleepy. As she hears what Nemi said, her eyes become bigger, knowing that Nemi is not reading through the texts in the book. In this comic strip, it can be said that the author has used some background knowledge on a story and use this in the strip. On the other hand, the strip has followed logical reasoning from the first to the second part. In terms of politeness and impoliteness, it can be said that there is no trace of this context in this particular strip.

 

Comic Strip 7

The mechanism of comic strip is considered to be irony, as Nemi is telling things to the man in a reverse manner. Caricature is also used as a mechanism for humour in this comic strip as it shows some exaggeration on the facial expression of Nemi as she is trying to convince the man to have his tattoo.  Herein, the author used texts which are simple and exclamatory texts. In addition, the strip also used juxtaposition.  Herein, the comic strip is about how Nemi is forcing or influencing the man on having a tattoo even if he is underage.

Nemi is using words to influence the man, and she make herself an example to convince him have his tattoo even if his father do not allow him to have it until he is 18. The comic strip has been able to use chronological and logical reasoning which allows the reader to understand where the strip is coming from. In this text, there is not much politeness and impoliteness context seen.

 

Comic Strip 8

The mechanism of comic strip is considered to use parody and caricature style. Parody because the strip have an exaggeration of the style and the characters, which is shown on the face, specifically in the huge smile of the man who approaches Nemi. On the other hand, this comic strip uses caricature in both texts and illustrations as the author provided unpleasant reactions from Nemi, because of the fact that he does not know where he met the man. The texts used in this strip are simple yet irrational. It uses combinations of simple and long sentences. The comic strip is about a man who approaches a girl whom he thought he knew. But Nemi is confused on whether he knew the man. The man hugged the girl as if they were closed, but after a while, the man asked if Nemi is Rita, which caused embarrassment for the man and Nemi.

It can be said that the comic strip is illustrated and written in chronological and logical order and have an effective background of knowledge.  In terms of politeness and impoliteness, it can be said that the comic strip can be considered to depict politeness as Nemi has not scolded the man even if she really doesn’t know him. She also reacts politely as the man approaches him.

 

Comic Strip 9

 

The mechanism of comic strip is considered to utilise caricature and parody style. This is because of the exaggerations on the face of the male character and the exaggeration of Nemi’s face, especially when the male character killed the spider. As we all know, Nemi is fond of spiders and she is sensitive when it comes to killing insects. The comic strip uses texts which are narrative and imperative. In addition, the comic strip also used exclamatory sentences.

            The comic strip is about Nemi and a man, in which Nemi told the man not to kill the spider for it will bring bad karma. However, instead of following Nemi, he killed the spider and he said that bad karma only happens when one believe it. In return, Nemi punches the man in the eye and said that she believe in karma.

It can be said that this particular strip follows some background knowledge regarding karma and it also follows logical reasoning on why Nemi punished the man. In this strip, the politeness and impoliteness have not been used intensely.

 

Comic Strip 10

 

The mechanism of comic strip above can be considered as irony as Nemi is saying things which are in contrast to the true meaning of the words. In this comic strip, the author uses short and long sentences and in some part, no texts are used. The humorous texts used is also considered be in order to easily get the meaning of what they are saying.

The comic strip is about Nemi and her friend Cyan and Nemi is telling her friend that she wants a child. Through the reaction of Cyan, it shows that she is hesitant with what Nemi is saying, but she still gives her advice. However, it shows some misinterpretations as Cyan interpreted Nemi’s words wrongly.  What Nemi wants is to have a free ticket to action towers and not to have a child of her own.

This is a funny strip since you can see how Nemi made her friend surprised with her desires of having a child just because she wants a free ticket. It can be said that the strip has been able to provide background knowledge from the first part of the strip and logical reasons until the last part of the strip. In line with politeness and impoliteness, there is not much about these contexts in this comic strip.

 

Conclusion

            It can be said that the study of humour gives an excellent region of consciousness in as much as it depicts to a very complicated experience. Herein, it can be said that the comic strip Nemi has been able to provide humorous texts and sceneries which made it more appealing to the readers. Although there are some strips that is not that humorous, these strips is still seems to lighten the mood of the reader because of the funny graphics and facial expressions of the characters. Some of the strips from Nemi have used the contexts of politeness while some have not considered it. Furthermore, it can be said also that most of the strips followed satire, irony, parody, and caricature as their mechanisms in depicting humorous events.

 

Reference

 

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