Effective exercise and training programs follow certain principles that allow it to help people keep fit. It may be known in various terms and is achieved through different means, but the basic principles behind exercise and fitness is always there. Knowing them and applying them in your own fitness regimen can help make it more effective in showing you the results that you need.
Exercise Variables How effective are the exercise routine that you follow would depend on certain factors. How you work over certain variables in exercise and fitness will help determine how fast you can lose weight, improve stamina or increase athletic performance. Here are the four exercise variables that you need to consider when trying to develop your own fitness program or regimen.
Exercise Frequency- this refers to how often you exercise. The frequency will allow you to develop an exercise regimen that you can go into for a certain period on, let us say, a weekly basis. If you plan to work out for two days in a week, you can speed up getting results by adding another day of exercise for the week.
Exercise Intensity- this refers to the level of physical activity of your exercise program. How hard you push yourself on each exercise session is also a factor in the effectiveness of an exercise and training program. For example, determining between bouts of jogging running and walking on one session would have different results. Doing more running rather than short bouts of walking or jogging would certainly have a different result from walking through each session most of the time.
Type of Exercise- this refers to the type of exercise included in your regimen. There are different types of exercises to choose from with each type being able to build up a certain part of the body better than the other. Knowledge of these types of exercises can help you develop a certain regimen that can be focused on improving target portions of the body.
Duration of Exercise- this refers to the time that is spent in doing the exercises. How long you stay in doing each exercise session will ultimately determine how fast or how slow that you get results. It may also be required to determine the duration of the exercise program along with the other exercise variables in order to either avoid injury or improve results.
These exercise and training variables can be used in developing a certain exercise program that would allow better performance as well as results. You may be able to start with using the different exercise variables in a way that you feel comfortable with. Along the way, you can then change any or all of these variables to either increase the efficiency as well as to reach the target results. The variables can also be used ideally just to make the exercise program even more interesting once they start to become too routine.
sabato 7 gennaio 2012
martedì 3 gennaio 2012
Cooking and eating light
With the humongous servings that restaurants serve
these days, Americans have grown used to eating large
amounts of food every day. This is good if the food
that they eat is nutritious and lesser in calories.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. That is why, it
is important that when you do eat at home, you eat
healthy and light as much as you can to counteract the
calorie intake that you have gotten. This starts with
the cooking light.
Cooking light does not only depend on the ingredients
but also the oil that you use. In fact, the oil can
change the caloric and fat content of the dish. You
see, even if all your ingredients are healthy, for
instance, vegetables; but if you use oil that is based
on animal fat, you will still have a not so healthy
dish.
Here are some ways to ensure that you cook light and
healthy for your home.
1. Use vegetable-based oil
This is the most important rule. Use oil that is
vegetable based to ensure that what you are cooking
your food with do not have much fats and calories in
them. The most popular of these are the corn oil and
the palm oil. These oils are made up of what is called
the good cholesterol. This kind actually help in the
functioning of the heart and balances out the bad
cholesterol that we get from meats and animal fats.
2. No added chemicals As much as you can, do not put
any other chemicals or flavoring into your food that
are not natural. It adds to the unhealthiness of the
dish that you are serving. Powder flavoring may help
enhance the taste in the dish that you are cooking but
it can also cause liver and kidney problems because of
its high salt content. Another thing to avoid is to
use deep fried mixes and batter to your food as this
only add to the caloric content of the food but none
to the nutritional content.
3. Lessen the meat Make it a habit to cook vegetables
and seafood at home. Make meat a once or twice a day
fare in your home. This way, you and your kids will be
getting the protein needs that your bodies have but
lesser of the fats and cholesterol that meats give. If
you do have to eat meat, choose those that are lesser
in cholesterol. White meat such as chicken and turkey
are considered healthier than red meats like pork and
beef. And between these two, pork is better as you can
easily remove the fats and not eat it unlike with
beef, where fats are distributed on the meat.
4. Cooking for less One way to eat light is to psych
yourself to also cook light, not only in caloric and
fat content but also in the number of servings. This
is especially true if you are cooking for dinner. Cook
less rice and more of the dishes. Do this gradually
though. Drastic change in food intake can cause health
problems. This is also not recommended if there are
young children. With young children, it is important
that you provide them with all the food that they need
for growing up. This does not mean though that they
should overeat but neither should you put them on a
diet unless said so by a doctor.
these days, Americans have grown used to eating large
amounts of food every day. This is good if the food
that they eat is nutritious and lesser in calories.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. That is why, it
is important that when you do eat at home, you eat
healthy and light as much as you can to counteract the
calorie intake that you have gotten. This starts with
the cooking light.
Cooking light does not only depend on the ingredients
but also the oil that you use. In fact, the oil can
change the caloric and fat content of the dish. You
see, even if all your ingredients are healthy, for
instance, vegetables; but if you use oil that is based
on animal fat, you will still have a not so healthy
dish.
Here are some ways to ensure that you cook light and
healthy for your home.
1. Use vegetable-based oil
This is the most important rule. Use oil that is
vegetable based to ensure that what you are cooking
your food with do not have much fats and calories in
them. The most popular of these are the corn oil and
the palm oil. These oils are made up of what is called
the good cholesterol. This kind actually help in the
functioning of the heart and balances out the bad
cholesterol that we get from meats and animal fats.
2. No added chemicals As much as you can, do not put
any other chemicals or flavoring into your food that
are not natural. It adds to the unhealthiness of the
dish that you are serving. Powder flavoring may help
enhance the taste in the dish that you are cooking but
it can also cause liver and kidney problems because of
its high salt content. Another thing to avoid is to
use deep fried mixes and batter to your food as this
only add to the caloric content of the food but none
to the nutritional content.
3. Lessen the meat Make it a habit to cook vegetables
and seafood at home. Make meat a once or twice a day
fare in your home. This way, you and your kids will be
getting the protein needs that your bodies have but
lesser of the fats and cholesterol that meats give. If
you do have to eat meat, choose those that are lesser
in cholesterol. White meat such as chicken and turkey
are considered healthier than red meats like pork and
beef. And between these two, pork is better as you can
easily remove the fats and not eat it unlike with
beef, where fats are distributed on the meat.
4. Cooking for less One way to eat light is to psych
yourself to also cook light, not only in caloric and
fat content but also in the number of servings. This
is especially true if you are cooking for dinner. Cook
less rice and more of the dishes. Do this gradually
though. Drastic change in food intake can cause health
problems. This is also not recommended if there are
young children. With young children, it is important
that you provide them with all the food that they need
for growing up. This does not mean though that they
should overeat but neither should you put them on a
diet unless said so by a doctor.
sabato 31 dicembre 2011
How To Fight Back Against Depression
I am one of those people who can easily slip into a very negative state of mind. The slightest knockback or problem can lead to a cloud of doom descending over me, a cloud which I find hard to push away and remove. This article looks at ways in which we can fight back, to quickly get us back into a happy mode.
I used to be quite a fragile character, some would say that I was even scared of my own shadow. I was always paranoid that people were talking about me and laughing behind my back.
Even though my parents are superb, I was not a happy child or a happy teenager. I am so unlucky you see or so I thought. I walked around as if the world owed me something and would often feel very sorry for myself. I was bullied at school, it was more mental bullying rather than anything physical. I am sure that most people also get bullied and deal with it. It would leave me in a state of panic and depression. Looking back I have to say I was a bit of a wimp in reality.
I decided that enough was enough by my mid-twenties and decided it was time to toughen up. I could not continue to live my life as I had been, as I would probably be dead by the time I was fifty.
I then went about a self-help program to increase my overall self-confidence and self-esteem. I wanted to learn more about stress-management, dealing with depression, relaxation and about how to become successful in life.
What I found out over the next twelve to eighteen months would change my life forever.
These are the things I had to do:
I had to stop feeling sorry for myself. Yes I am not perfect but who is.
I had to think in a more positive way.
I had to stop worrying about the future.
I had to stop caring what other people thought of me.
I needed to smile more.
I needed to learn to relax. I now use meditation for this purpose.
I had to learn to like myself.
I needed to become stronger to fight away the negative thoughts in my head.
I needed to appreciate what I did have in life, rather than concentrating on what I had not.
I started to implement the above and it helped me no end. That horrible cloud of doom, still descended however, around once a month. When it does descend, I now write two lists. What I am happy about in life and what I am sad or worrying about. I then analyse both lists and more times than not, I am actually over-reacting.
In conclusion, life is a battle. There are good times and bad. We need to become strong and learn to think in a more positive way. We have to fight back against people who bully us and against the voices in our head who are trying to make us panic. This is not easy, however with determination people are able to turn their life around just like I have.
I used to feel anger towards the people who bullied me at school. I now feel sorry for them. They are the bad apples and I prey for them. I prey that God will one day make them pure.
I used to be quite a fragile character, some would say that I was even scared of my own shadow. I was always paranoid that people were talking about me and laughing behind my back.
Even though my parents are superb, I was not a happy child or a happy teenager. I am so unlucky you see or so I thought. I walked around as if the world owed me something and would often feel very sorry for myself. I was bullied at school, it was more mental bullying rather than anything physical. I am sure that most people also get bullied and deal with it. It would leave me in a state of panic and depression. Looking back I have to say I was a bit of a wimp in reality.
I decided that enough was enough by my mid-twenties and decided it was time to toughen up. I could not continue to live my life as I had been, as I would probably be dead by the time I was fifty.
I then went about a self-help program to increase my overall self-confidence and self-esteem. I wanted to learn more about stress-management, dealing with depression, relaxation and about how to become successful in life.
What I found out over the next twelve to eighteen months would change my life forever.
These are the things I had to do:
I had to stop feeling sorry for myself. Yes I am not perfect but who is.
I had to think in a more positive way.
I had to stop worrying about the future.
I had to stop caring what other people thought of me.
I needed to smile more.
I needed to learn to relax. I now use meditation for this purpose.
I had to learn to like myself.
I needed to become stronger to fight away the negative thoughts in my head.
I needed to appreciate what I did have in life, rather than concentrating on what I had not.
I started to implement the above and it helped me no end. That horrible cloud of doom, still descended however, around once a month. When it does descend, I now write two lists. What I am happy about in life and what I am sad or worrying about. I then analyse both lists and more times than not, I am actually over-reacting.
In conclusion, life is a battle. There are good times and bad. We need to become strong and learn to think in a more positive way. We have to fight back against people who bully us and against the voices in our head who are trying to make us panic. This is not easy, however with determination people are able to turn their life around just like I have.
I used to feel anger towards the people who bullied me at school. I now feel sorry for them. They are the bad apples and I prey for them. I prey that God will one day make them pure.
lunedì 26 dicembre 2011
How Does One Know If He Or She Has Gilbert's Disease?
Gilbert’s disease is a condition that has closely related symptoms as jaundice, in fact there had been several studies that say that some cases of jaundice is caused by Gilbert’s disease. A very thin line separates the two conditions and without professional help one may not be able to understand and determine which condition they are afflicted with.
It’s difficult to understand why it is important to know the right condition you have if two conditions barely have a difference. The importance of knowing the right conditions that you are afflicted with is that knowing what condition you have can lead to easier treatment. Treating certain conditions requires knowing exactly the type of condition that you are experiencing. You can’t really treat a flu with cough medicine right? It goes the same with every kind of condition that people experience.
Unfortunately though some conditions may not have a treatment or a cure. One of those conditions is Gilbert’s disease. This condition is not really damaging or harmful to the patient but it still causes a lot of discomfort. Gilbert’s disease causes fatigue and jaundice to a person.
Even if some conditions have no known cure or treatments it is still important to have it diagnosed properly to learn more about the condition and find a cure in the future. Going back to Gilbert’s disease if it has no known cure or treatment why do people still to have it diagnosed. For experts to be able to find more about the condition and to be able to find out more about how to treat it.
How do you find out if you are suffering from Gilbert’s disease? Is there a proven way to pinpoint the condition if Gilbert’s disease shares the same symptoms with jaundice? There is and you can consider following it if you have the time to examine yourself. Here is a short list of the ways and the steps to go through to systematically to find out if you have Gilbert’s disease.
Step number 1: If you have an inkling that you have Gilbert’s disease and you also found out that your family has a history of having it too, you should immediately look for the signs and symptoms of the diseases. One of the symptoms you have to look for is the symptom of jaundice. Those signs are yellowish skin and yellowish eyeballs, it may also be accompanied by swollen mucus membranes and running nose. Another symptom is fatigue due to physical stress (exercise, general stress, and illness). Other symptoms to look for include nausea, general sleepiness or tiredness, pain in the body.
Step number 2: Visit your family doctor and tell him about the symptoms and the signs that you are experiencing. You should also tell your doctor about your suspicion and your family history. This may narrow down the search for the condition you are experiencing. Telling your doctor your suspicions may help out a lot.
Step number 3: Besides testing the physical symptoms, your doctor will let you go through an indirect bilirubin blood test that will say whether the disease is at hand.
Step number 4: Once diagnosed, though there isn’t a treatment for the condition your doctor can still treat the jaundice and the help relieve the pain or discomfort associated with the abdominal symptoms of Gilbert’s disease that can be present.
It’s difficult to understand why it is important to know the right condition you have if two conditions barely have a difference. The importance of knowing the right conditions that you are afflicted with is that knowing what condition you have can lead to easier treatment. Treating certain conditions requires knowing exactly the type of condition that you are experiencing. You can’t really treat a flu with cough medicine right? It goes the same with every kind of condition that people experience.
Unfortunately though some conditions may not have a treatment or a cure. One of those conditions is Gilbert’s disease. This condition is not really damaging or harmful to the patient but it still causes a lot of discomfort. Gilbert’s disease causes fatigue and jaundice to a person.
Even if some conditions have no known cure or treatments it is still important to have it diagnosed properly to learn more about the condition and find a cure in the future. Going back to Gilbert’s disease if it has no known cure or treatment why do people still to have it diagnosed. For experts to be able to find more about the condition and to be able to find out more about how to treat it.
How do you find out if you are suffering from Gilbert’s disease? Is there a proven way to pinpoint the condition if Gilbert’s disease shares the same symptoms with jaundice? There is and you can consider following it if you have the time to examine yourself. Here is a short list of the ways and the steps to go through to systematically to find out if you have Gilbert’s disease.
Step number 1: If you have an inkling that you have Gilbert’s disease and you also found out that your family has a history of having it too, you should immediately look for the signs and symptoms of the diseases. One of the symptoms you have to look for is the symptom of jaundice. Those signs are yellowish skin and yellowish eyeballs, it may also be accompanied by swollen mucus membranes and running nose. Another symptom is fatigue due to physical stress (exercise, general stress, and illness). Other symptoms to look for include nausea, general sleepiness or tiredness, pain in the body.
Step number 2: Visit your family doctor and tell him about the symptoms and the signs that you are experiencing. You should also tell your doctor about your suspicion and your family history. This may narrow down the search for the condition you are experiencing. Telling your doctor your suspicions may help out a lot.
Step number 3: Besides testing the physical symptoms, your doctor will let you go through an indirect bilirubin blood test that will say whether the disease is at hand.
Step number 4: Once diagnosed, though there isn’t a treatment for the condition your doctor can still treat the jaundice and the help relieve the pain or discomfort associated with the abdominal symptoms of Gilbert’s disease that can be present.
giovedì 22 dicembre 2011
7 Things You should know when planning a babyshower
Introduction:
Babyshowers have their origin in ancient time. Like other things, the way and manner in which they are planned and celebrated have changed over time. Here are somethings that you should bear in mind when planning a babyshower today.
1. Know the culture of the would be parents.
Because babyshowers are steeped in tradition and customs, it is important to have a good idea of what is culturally acceptable by the would be parents and what is not. People do not necessarily throw away their culture because they live in modern times. Knowing the cultural limitations, makes the celebration more memorable and worthwile.
2. Know the needs of the parents to be
It is pointless giving gifts that recepients can not use. Would be parents need things for the new baby and are probably stretched to their limits. It would be only worth their while if the gifts they get help to alleviate this burden. Where the gender of the baby is known in advance, give gifts that are gender appropriate.
3. Know the best time to schedule your shower
As the hostess, it behooves you to know when to schedule the babyshower for maximum benefit and impact. Do not schedule your shower too early or too late. Expecting couples need all the financial help they can get. Scheduling a shower too late may mean that the couple had already bought all the things they need for the baby.
4. Know the physical needs of the expecting mother
Pregnancy puts enormous physical challenges and demand on the expecting mother, especially if it is their first pregnancy. It is a good idea to locate the shower closer to home to avoid putting additional strain on an already over challenged mother to be.
5. Know who is on your guest list
The success and failure of a babyshower to a certain extent depends on the attendace. How responsive is your list. Did you consult the couple when compiling your guest list. Remember this is their babyshower not your. You are only a vessel in the actualization of this event.
6. Know your refreshment plan
Preparing for and feeding even the smallest group of poeple can quickly turn into a nightmare if no adequate plans are made for that. Set up a plan about what to serve and how to serve it and work your plan. Make room for emergencies that may arise.
7. Know your plan for entertainment
What is your plan for entertainment? Do you have games that your guests can play? Board games and puzzles make for easy and entertaining games that your guests can play. You might want to organize some kind of poetry reading, depending on the mix of your guests. You can have guests come with their own poems written for the occassion to share with others.
Babyshowers have their origin in ancient time. Like other things, the way and manner in which they are planned and celebrated have changed over time. Here are somethings that you should bear in mind when planning a babyshower today.
1. Know the culture of the would be parents.
Because babyshowers are steeped in tradition and customs, it is important to have a good idea of what is culturally acceptable by the would be parents and what is not. People do not necessarily throw away their culture because they live in modern times. Knowing the cultural limitations, makes the celebration more memorable and worthwile.
2. Know the needs of the parents to be
It is pointless giving gifts that recepients can not use. Would be parents need things for the new baby and are probably stretched to their limits. It would be only worth their while if the gifts they get help to alleviate this burden. Where the gender of the baby is known in advance, give gifts that are gender appropriate.
3. Know the best time to schedule your shower
As the hostess, it behooves you to know when to schedule the babyshower for maximum benefit and impact. Do not schedule your shower too early or too late. Expecting couples need all the financial help they can get. Scheduling a shower too late may mean that the couple had already bought all the things they need for the baby.
4. Know the physical needs of the expecting mother
Pregnancy puts enormous physical challenges and demand on the expecting mother, especially if it is their first pregnancy. It is a good idea to locate the shower closer to home to avoid putting additional strain on an already over challenged mother to be.
5. Know who is on your guest list
The success and failure of a babyshower to a certain extent depends on the attendace. How responsive is your list. Did you consult the couple when compiling your guest list. Remember this is their babyshower not your. You are only a vessel in the actualization of this event.
6. Know your refreshment plan
Preparing for and feeding even the smallest group of poeple can quickly turn into a nightmare if no adequate plans are made for that. Set up a plan about what to serve and how to serve it and work your plan. Make room for emergencies that may arise.
7. Know your plan for entertainment
What is your plan for entertainment? Do you have games that your guests can play? Board games and puzzles make for easy and entertaining games that your guests can play. You might want to organize some kind of poetry reading, depending on the mix of your guests. You can have guests come with their own poems written for the occassion to share with others.
lunedì 19 dicembre 2011
Consolidate credit card debt
We know that it’s good to consolidate credit card debt (at least that is what we keep hearing from everyone). In fact, the first step towards addressing the problem of credit card debt is to consolidate credit card debt. Now, what do you do to consolidate credit card debt? Should you just go with that attractive ad in the newspaper that says ‘...the lowest APR in the town is available here’?
The first thing, really, is to keep your eyes and ears open. There are always a number of offers available for you to choose from. The credit card suppliers keep coming with new and more attractive offers asking you to consolidate credit card debt with them. However, you must note that the APR quoted in bold, e.g. 0% APR, is applicable only for a short term (3-9 months). The long term (or the standard) APR is different. So, when you go looking for a credit card to consolidate credit card debt, you must be keenly looking for these 3 things (in terms of APR) – introductory APR, introductory APR period and the standard APR. Let’s see how each one is important.
Introductory APR is probably the most attractive thing to look for when you are looking to consolidate credit card debt. If you consolidate credit card debt to a card that has a low introductory APR e.g. 0%, the first thing you get is a breather/relief in terms of the rate at which your credit card debt has been growing. Based on how long that 0% APR period is (generally you will look to consolidate credit card debt with a credit card supplier who offers 0% initial APR), you will at least be able to temporarily break the growth rate of your credit card debt. More the introductory period, the better it is. However, you should not ignore the standard APR when you consolidate credit card debt. This is the interest rate that will be applied to your balance after the expiry of the introductory low APR period that was given to lure you to consolidate credit card debt with that credit card supplier. If the standard APR is too high and you know that you will not be able to clear off the entire credit card debt during the low APR period, that credit card is probably not the best for you to consolidate credit card debt to. However, if you think that you will be able to clear off the entire credit card debt during that period, you can make some compromises on the standard APR of the credit card to which you consolidate credit card debt.
The card that synchronizes with your current and future financial position (and needs), is the one you should consolidate credit card debt to.
The first thing, really, is to keep your eyes and ears open. There are always a number of offers available for you to choose from. The credit card suppliers keep coming with new and more attractive offers asking you to consolidate credit card debt with them. However, you must note that the APR quoted in bold, e.g. 0% APR, is applicable only for a short term (3-9 months). The long term (or the standard) APR is different. So, when you go looking for a credit card to consolidate credit card debt, you must be keenly looking for these 3 things (in terms of APR) – introductory APR, introductory APR period and the standard APR. Let’s see how each one is important.
Introductory APR is probably the most attractive thing to look for when you are looking to consolidate credit card debt. If you consolidate credit card debt to a card that has a low introductory APR e.g. 0%, the first thing you get is a breather/relief in terms of the rate at which your credit card debt has been growing. Based on how long that 0% APR period is (generally you will look to consolidate credit card debt with a credit card supplier who offers 0% initial APR), you will at least be able to temporarily break the growth rate of your credit card debt. More the introductory period, the better it is. However, you should not ignore the standard APR when you consolidate credit card debt. This is the interest rate that will be applied to your balance after the expiry of the introductory low APR period that was given to lure you to consolidate credit card debt with that credit card supplier. If the standard APR is too high and you know that you will not be able to clear off the entire credit card debt during the low APR period, that credit card is probably not the best for you to consolidate credit card debt to. However, if you think that you will be able to clear off the entire credit card debt during that period, you can make some compromises on the standard APR of the credit card to which you consolidate credit card debt.
The card that synchronizes with your current and future financial position (and needs), is the one you should consolidate credit card debt to.
giovedì 15 dicembre 2011
Common Strategies of Animated Comedy
As an independent filmmaker specializing in animated comedy, I'd like to share my thoughts and observations on how to create projects intended to make people laugh (in a good way). By taking a close look at recent popular shows and movies (i.e. Simpsons, Family Guy, Shrek, etc) I've outlined a brief analysis that identifies some of the major strategies of humor used in many of today's animated television programs and shows, as well as the advantages/disadvantages of implementing them. Just a note before we continue: this article isn't intended only as a guide for comedy filmmakers- I'm sure those of you who appreciate good humor will get something out of it as well.
The following compilation is the result of my own observations, and I'm certain you'll see what I mean if you take a closer look this Sunday night when Family Guy comes on. Later, I'll share some of my own thoughts on the subject of creating effective humor for mainstream audiences.
1. PARODY: This involves poking fun of well-known genres and plot formulas (action, horror, porn, etc), and making references to well-known films, TV shows, famous people, significant historical events, etc. Very often, these genres, films, and TV shows are spoofed. Think of the number of times you've seen a reference to a Kubrick film during an episode of The Simpsons, or a Star Wars reference in Family Guy to emphasize a joke.
Advantages: First off, it's easy to do and often elicits laughs. The basic structure of the joke is based on a well-known source, and the audience is likely to get it right away.
Disadvantages: To be blunt, it's lazy filmmaking. Too much parody thrown in a story can often be interpreted as a lack of creativity/originality, and ultimately limits the project's depth. Jokes/gags of this kind will only last as long as the spoofed or referenced subject is popular or is fashionable.
2. ANIMATION THAT IS DELIBERATELY BAD/CHEESY: Includes the use of poorly drawn/animated characters and backgrounds as an important element of the humor.
Advantages: Sometimes more efficient and more cost effective than using more detailed animation techniques. It's funny to watch and calling some attention to the bad animation can generate new jokes and great sight gags. Think of shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Sealab 2021.
Disadvantages: Like the parody, this can quickly turn into lazy filmmaking. Depending only on bad animation for laughs might make the project difficult to maintain in the long run.
3. GROSS-OUT HUMOR/EXPLICIT LANGUAGE: Includes humor that is, but not limited to being scatological, sexual, bloody, etc. Also includes use of foul language. Since the Simpsons and South Park, audiences have come to expect jokes of this kind.
Advantages: In small doses and if done with subtlety, gross-out humor and the use of explicit language combined with visual sight gags can be hilarious.
Disadvantage: Easy to overuse. Dialogue containing too many four-letter words for the sake of being obnoxious will turn off most viewers. Gross-out humor, if only used for shock value, will seem shallow if it does nothing to contribute to the overall story.
4. NON-SEQUITORS (RANDOM HUMOR): Jokes, statements, events, etc. that happen out of nowhere.
Advantages: Absurd humor that occurs at random works on several levels, which include the outlandishness of the act itself, its unpredictability, and also its general disregard for logic in context with the scene's apparent focus. It can take an audience by surprise, and can add some originality to the project.
Disadvantages: If an absurd and random act suddenly shifts the focus of the story, it may disappoint viewers who have otherwise been engaged in the narrative. Also, many people may not "get it," which has the potential of restricting the viewing demographic. When a nonsequitor serves as a story's conclusion, it's usually evidence of an inability to create an effective ending.
On creating more effective humor:
Characters with unique qualities: Trying to be original isn't easy, but it is a lot of fun. When creating characters, don't worry too much about whatever's "hip" or "in" at the moment. Start off with characters that have very specific personality traits, habits, etc. Base them off yourself, off of people you know, your experiences, or just let your imagination run wild. Give your characters specific hobbies, unusual interests (i.e. a hero that can't resist objects that squirt water), and/or specific likes/dislikes. These concrete qualities will often provide opportunities to develop character, storylines, and above all, humorous events.
Stories with solid conclusions: Many creative folks I've talked to notice the difficulty of coming up with good endings. No matter what the genre, filmmakers of all sorts can learn a valuable lesson from mystery novel authors. When you come up with the idea for a film, start by knowing how it's going to end. This gives the story focus, and makes it easier for all the events to logically pan out. Another important tip to remember- audiences will almost always forgive a film with a bad beginning, but will never forgive a film with a bad ending.
Understand that being funny isn't the same as acting funny: Okay, what does this mean? Here's an illustration: There was a video on the internet of a careless skateboarder falling on his face multiple times after trying to coast off the roof of his parents' house. It wasn't funny to the skateboarder, but it was funny to most of the people who saw it happen. Why? On a psychological level, it's in our nature to laugh or take some kind of satisfaction in someone else's misfortune/failure so long as the screw-up doesn't result in death or dismemberment (most of the time). On a more practical level, most of the online viewers laughed at the sheer idiocy of the act. After all, the careless skateboarder who plunged off the roof actually expected positive results from his stunt. So how do we apply this to creating comedy? Create situations that are funny to the audience, but not to your characters. One effective way of doing this is having your characters expect serious results from doing things that are clearly dangerous, stupid, or both.
These are just a few pointers to help you get started with creating your own comedy, or to help you understand some of the more successful comedy out there today. I hope you enjoyed the article. Have a good laugh!
The following compilation is the result of my own observations, and I'm certain you'll see what I mean if you take a closer look this Sunday night when Family Guy comes on. Later, I'll share some of my own thoughts on the subject of creating effective humor for mainstream audiences.
1. PARODY: This involves poking fun of well-known genres and plot formulas (action, horror, porn, etc), and making references to well-known films, TV shows, famous people, significant historical events, etc. Very often, these genres, films, and TV shows are spoofed. Think of the number of times you've seen a reference to a Kubrick film during an episode of The Simpsons, or a Star Wars reference in Family Guy to emphasize a joke.
Advantages: First off, it's easy to do and often elicits laughs. The basic structure of the joke is based on a well-known source, and the audience is likely to get it right away.
Disadvantages: To be blunt, it's lazy filmmaking. Too much parody thrown in a story can often be interpreted as a lack of creativity/originality, and ultimately limits the project's depth. Jokes/gags of this kind will only last as long as the spoofed or referenced subject is popular or is fashionable.
2. ANIMATION THAT IS DELIBERATELY BAD/CHEESY: Includes the use of poorly drawn/animated characters and backgrounds as an important element of the humor.
Advantages: Sometimes more efficient and more cost effective than using more detailed animation techniques. It's funny to watch and calling some attention to the bad animation can generate new jokes and great sight gags. Think of shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Sealab 2021.
Disadvantages: Like the parody, this can quickly turn into lazy filmmaking. Depending only on bad animation for laughs might make the project difficult to maintain in the long run.
3. GROSS-OUT HUMOR/EXPLICIT LANGUAGE: Includes humor that is, but not limited to being scatological, sexual, bloody, etc. Also includes use of foul language. Since the Simpsons and South Park, audiences have come to expect jokes of this kind.
Advantages: In small doses and if done with subtlety, gross-out humor and the use of explicit language combined with visual sight gags can be hilarious.
Disadvantage: Easy to overuse. Dialogue containing too many four-letter words for the sake of being obnoxious will turn off most viewers. Gross-out humor, if only used for shock value, will seem shallow if it does nothing to contribute to the overall story.
4. NON-SEQUITORS (RANDOM HUMOR): Jokes, statements, events, etc. that happen out of nowhere.
Advantages: Absurd humor that occurs at random works on several levels, which include the outlandishness of the act itself, its unpredictability, and also its general disregard for logic in context with the scene's apparent focus. It can take an audience by surprise, and can add some originality to the project.
Disadvantages: If an absurd and random act suddenly shifts the focus of the story, it may disappoint viewers who have otherwise been engaged in the narrative. Also, many people may not "get it," which has the potential of restricting the viewing demographic. When a nonsequitor serves as a story's conclusion, it's usually evidence of an inability to create an effective ending.
On creating more effective humor:
Characters with unique qualities: Trying to be original isn't easy, but it is a lot of fun. When creating characters, don't worry too much about whatever's "hip" or "in" at the moment. Start off with characters that have very specific personality traits, habits, etc. Base them off yourself, off of people you know, your experiences, or just let your imagination run wild. Give your characters specific hobbies, unusual interests (i.e. a hero that can't resist objects that squirt water), and/or specific likes/dislikes. These concrete qualities will often provide opportunities to develop character, storylines, and above all, humorous events.
Stories with solid conclusions: Many creative folks I've talked to notice the difficulty of coming up with good endings. No matter what the genre, filmmakers of all sorts can learn a valuable lesson from mystery novel authors. When you come up with the idea for a film, start by knowing how it's going to end. This gives the story focus, and makes it easier for all the events to logically pan out. Another important tip to remember- audiences will almost always forgive a film with a bad beginning, but will never forgive a film with a bad ending.
Understand that being funny isn't the same as acting funny: Okay, what does this mean? Here's an illustration: There was a video on the internet of a careless skateboarder falling on his face multiple times after trying to coast off the roof of his parents' house. It wasn't funny to the skateboarder, but it was funny to most of the people who saw it happen. Why? On a psychological level, it's in our nature to laugh or take some kind of satisfaction in someone else's misfortune/failure so long as the screw-up doesn't result in death or dismemberment (most of the time). On a more practical level, most of the online viewers laughed at the sheer idiocy of the act. After all, the careless skateboarder who plunged off the roof actually expected positive results from his stunt. So how do we apply this to creating comedy? Create situations that are funny to the audience, but not to your characters. One effective way of doing this is having your characters expect serious results from doing things that are clearly dangerous, stupid, or both.
These are just a few pointers to help you get started with creating your own comedy, or to help you understand some of the more successful comedy out there today. I hope you enjoyed the article. Have a good laugh!
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