The line in Exodus about the graves is actually even more comically layered than Rabbi Hajioff makes out. The aramaic is not "graves" but rather "tombs" -- the point was that Egypt was famous for great tombs -- the pyramids after all were tombs, being built by the Hebrews no less. So when the Hebrew funny man in the desert says, in effect, "What, the Egyptian tombs weren't good enough, you had to bring us out here to be buried?" he's ALSO in effect saying, "We built such wonderful places to be buried back in Egypt, and now you bring us miles into the desert to drop dead?" Of course, it's all in the timing.
Really? Who are the great Jewish cartoonists? And when you say great humor writers are you talking about writing essays or more broadly about writing jokes, screenplays, stand-up routines, the whole shebang?
he's basically correct. What's essential is the twist, the cognitive dissonance created by the unexpected turn. That's why so many attempts at humor are 'filthy' or not politically correct, because it's a matter of "I can't believe he said that". Yet the structure of all humor is the same. Prosaic 'story' and unexpected 'end' or twist. The "I didn't expect THAT" movement. Which is why comedy is so closely related to tragedy. Tragedy too, has the unexpected 'end' or twist and a shattering of expectations. Laughter on occasion erupts at the sight of tragedy, but always with a good joke, and each time will involve an explosive release of tension.
