Using Humor in Storytelling Description

Workshop Description:  Presented by Andy Offutt Irwin

Using Humor in Storytelling

“The digressions are the best part.”
– Ron Balthazor

“Humor can be dissected as a frog can,
but the thing dies in the process
and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind.”
– E.B. White

This workshop is an exploration of Humor, Wit, Storytelling, and Cognitive Connections for Deep and Enduring Learning[1] Okay. This sounds all academicy, and there appears to be redundancy between the words “humor” and “wit.” And indeed, while wit is a form of humor, all humor is not wit, and – Gentle Educator or Storyteller– all wit is not funny.

I refer to wit as the part of the intellect that adheres to what was once called, common sense. When one is in touch with one’s own “wits” – when once has one’s wits about them – than the ability to listen increases. Students love to be listened to.

In the workshop we’ll talk about wit and conversation.

And we’ll talk about the tradition of oral narratives, and how listening and telling these – let’s call them stories – listening and telling these stories leads to good writing and communication.

And again, it all leads to good conversation, which leads to skilled critical thinking.

Interruptions are welcomed.

Andy Offutt Irwin is a theatre director, songwriter, arts educator, and traveling storyteller (he keeps moving because he’s eventually found out).

For sixteen years he was on-going Artist in Residence in Theatre at Oxford College of Emory University, where in 2001 he was the recipient of the Sammy Clark Award for Exemplary Teaching. He is a perennial favorite of the Teller in Residence Program at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN, and has been a Featured Teller at the National Storytelling Festival four times. He lives in Covington, GA. He thinks he’s funny.