Bob Mankoff: Anatomy of a New Yorker cartoon

Summary

In this talk, Bob Mankoff, former cartoon editor of The New Yorker, explores the intricacies of designing humor within the magazine's context. He discusses the subjectivity of humor, the importance of constraints, and how humor can be both a reflection on and a critique of its audience. Mankoff also touches on the magazine's approach to sensitive topics, the cognitive process required to understand New Yorker cartoons, and the concept of 'benign violation' in humor.

Takeaways

• 😀 Humor is subjective and can be perceived differently based on context and audience.
• 🎨 The New Yorker's humor often involves a blend of wit and intellectual engagement, requiring thought from both the creator and the reader.
• 📊 Satisfaction with humor is rarely 100%, with 75% being a more realistic target, highlighting the challenge of universal humor appreciation.
• 🖼️ Cartoons are part of a broader context, and their humor can shift depending on the environment in which they are viewed.
• 📊 A significant majority of people may find a cartoon funny, but individual reactions can vary widely, demonstrating the diversity of humor.
• 🚫 The New Yorker is sensitive to the appropriateness of humor, avoiding content that could be offensive to its diverse readership.
• 👨‍🎨 Cartoonists often face a high rate of rejection, emphasizing the competitive nature of creative industries and the need for resilience.
• 📜 The contract between The New Yorker and its cartoonists refers to 'idea drawings' rather than 'cartoons,' underscoring the intellectual nature of the humor.
• 🤔 New Yorker cartoons often play with cognitive dissonance, juxtaposing expectations with reality to create humor.
• 📚 The humor in The New Yorker is self-reflective, targeting the readers and their assumptions, rather than external groups.
• 🤝 The magazine uses humor as a tool for social commentary, often focusing on the human condition and shared experiences.

Q & A

What is the speaker's profession and his role at The New Yorker?

The speaker, Bob Mankoff, is a cartoonist and was the cartoon editor for The New Yorker. He is responsible for selecting cartoons for publication, managing the humor content, and working with cartoonists.

What is the significance of the 75 percent satisfaction rate mentioned in the script?

The 75 percent satisfaction rate refers to the speaker's view that achieving complete satisfaction with humor is nearly impossible, as humor is subjective and varies from person to person. He suggests that a 75 percent approval is the best one can realistically hope for in the context of humor.

How does the speaker describe the humor in The New Yorker magazine?

The speaker describes New Yorker humor as self-reflective, targeting the readership and making them think about their assumptions. It often involves cognitive work, requiring the reader to understand the cartoon's context and to connect different frames of reference quickly.

What is the 'benign violation' concept in humor as discussed in the script?

The 'benign violation' concept refers to humor that is both wrong and okay at the same time. It suggests that for something to be funny, it must be perceived as a violation of social norms or expectations, but in a way that is ultimately harmless and acceptable.

Why does the speaker mention the importance of context in humor?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of context in humor because it influences how a joke is perceived and whether it is found funny or not. The same joke can be hilarious in one context and offensive in another, highlighting the subjectivity of humor.

What does the speaker mean by 'cognitive synergy' in the context of humor?

Cognitive synergy refers to the mental process where two or more incongruous concepts are combined in a humorous way, creating a temporary mental state where these conflicting ideas coexist, leading to laughter.

How does the speaker explain the difference between humor that is appropriate for The New Yorker and humor that ends up in 'The Rejection Collection'?

The speaker explains that humor appropriate for The New Yorker is typically self-reflective and aligns with the magazine's sophisticated and intellectual tone. In contrast, humor in 'The Rejection Collection' often involves more blatant violations or is considered too crude or nonsensical for the magazine's audience.

What role does the audience's mood play in humor according to the script?

The audience's mood plays a significant role in humor as it determines the type of humor they find appealing. For instance, when in a playful mood, people may prefer high arousal and excitement, while in a purposeful mood, they may seek more thoughtful and reflective humor.

How does the speaker describe the process of cartoon selection for The New Yorker?

The speaker describes the cartoon selection process as challenging and meticulous. He mentions that he reviews around 1,000 cartoons weekly, but The New Yorker can only feature 16 or 17. This process involves rejecting many cartoons, even those that are creative and humorous, due to the magazine's specific criteria and limited space.

What is the significance of the cartoon 'No, Thursday's out. How about never — is never good for you?' in the script?

This cartoon is significant because it exemplifies the type of humor The New Yorker is known for. It plays on the contrast between polite language and a rude message, defying expectations and creating a cognitive synergy that is both humorous and thought-provoking.