Article published in:
Pragmatics, Humour and the Internet
Edited by Francisco Yus
[Internet Pragmatics 4:1] 2021
► pp. 131–149

Incongruity-resolution humorous strategies in image macro memes

| University of Alicante

In previous research (Yus 2016, 2017), a classification of jokes was proposed depending on how the humorous incongruity-resolution strategy was achieved. Twelve cases were isolated resulting from the combination of several parameters: (1) a differentiation between discourse-based incongruities and frame-based incongruities; (2) the location of the incongruity-triggering element (setup or punchline); and (3) three types of resolution: discourse-, frame- and implication-based. This paper proposes a similar taxonomy of incongruity-resolution patterns for a specific type of internet discourse: the image macro meme. The resulting seven-case taxonomy inherits some of the features of that were proposed for verbal jokes, albeit exhibiting the extent to which the image plays a specific role in the successful meme-centred humorous strategy.

Keywords: image macro meme, incongruity-resolution strategy, internet humour
Article outline
  • 1.Incongruity-resolution strategy in verbal jokes
  • 2.(Image macro) memes
  • 3.Incongruity-resolution patterns in image macro memes
    • 3.1Frame-based incongruity where the image plays no role in the IR strategy
    • 3.2Frame-based incongruity where the image aids in the IR strategy
    • 3.3Frame-based incongruity where the image is essential in the IR strategy
    • 3.4Discourse-image based incongruity (the image is essential)
    • 3.5Discourse-based incongruity where the image plays no role in the IR strategy
    • 3.6Discourse-based incongruity where the image aids in the IR strategy
    • 3.7Discourse-based incongruity where the image is essential in the IR strategy
  • 4.Concluding remarks
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 01 July 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/ip.00058.yus
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