Prop-Comedy

In one of his sets Carrot Top shows the audience a spray can with a dictionary attached to it and explains them that with this, you’ll never misspell a graffiti anymore.Source

DEFINITION OF A JOKE: “A joke conveys information in a funny way.”

Content of the Joke: We learn about one, albeit impractical way to make sure one doesn’t misspell a graffiti.

In a funny way: I would say so yes.

MECHANISM OF A JOKE: “A joke adds information in a way that triggers a sudden cognitive shift.”

The information that triggers the cognitive shift are the words “they spell it right” which suddenly makes us understand why anyone would put a dictionary to a spray-paint can.

THE FORMULA: “Disappoint an assumption by fulfilling a second assumption in a surprising and satisfying way.”

Assumption: That his construction is useless.

A second assumption is fulfilled: Yes. It isn’t useless. Just very impractical.

Surprising: Yes.

Satisfying: Yes. Because it fulfills all three conditions (Humorous, Harmless, Compatible).

Humorous: Yes. Because

1) Behavior (The tendency to laugh or to grin): Yes.
2) Cognitive (Something is intellectually perceived as “funny”): Yes.
3) Emotional (The positive feeling of amusement): Yes.

Harmless: Yes. In fact he is trying to make the world a better place.

Harmless according to the Benign Violation Theory: The norm of how solutions are supposed to be gets violated but it is harmless.

Is it still in a way compatible with the original assumption: Yes. Because we didn’t think there was a use for Carrot Tops construction but there is.

Unexpected Change that turns out to be benign: Yes. The existence of a spray-paint can with a dictionary attached is unexpected but turns out to be benign.