Sophomoric humor
Encyclopedia
Sophomoric humor refers to juvenile, puerile, and base comedy
that would normally be expected from an adolescent. It is used to refer to a type of comedy that often includes bathroom humor and gags
that are based on and appeal to a silly sense of immaturity. The word sophomoric, an adjective dating from 1813, is used to refer to and describe something or someone that is conceited, overconfident, poorly informed and immature, as characterized by a sophomore
. The phrase can be derisive, but is also used to refer to a style or vein of comedic act.
A sophomoric view is one held confidently because of lack of awareness of one's own ignorance
. From the Greek
words σοφος (transliterated as sophos
), meaning wise or clever, and μορος (transliterated as moros
) meaning foolish or stupid, related to the word moron
. A sophomore
is a second-year student in a four-year course of study. The term originated in England
, but is now used principally in the United States
.
's work, including The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up
and Funny People
, has been described as using sophomoric humor, drawing laughs for jokes about sex
, penis
es, and bodily functions
. A critique of John Steinbeck
's The Short Reign of Pippin IV
by Peter Lisca describes the story as lacking the burlesque humor of Tortilla Flat, the Rabelaisin humor of St. Katy the Virgin, the folk humor of Grapes of Wrath, the tender humor of Cannery Row, the "terrible" Jonathan Swift
ian humor of the Wayward Bus, and (instead) consisting of "a sophomoric humor of grotesque improbability and wordplay."
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
that would normally be expected from an adolescent. It is used to refer to a type of comedy that often includes bathroom humor and gags
Practical joke device
A practical joke device is a manufactured prop or toy intended to confuse, frighten, or amuse individuals as a prank. Often, these objects are harmless facsimiles of disgusting or terrifying objects, such as vomit or spilled nail polish...
that are based on and appeal to a silly sense of immaturity. The word sophomoric, an adjective dating from 1813, is used to refer to and describe something or someone that is conceited, overconfident, poorly informed and immature, as characterized by a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
. The phrase can be derisive, but is also used to refer to a style or vein of comedic act.
A sophomoric view is one held confidently because of lack of awareness of one's own ignorance
Ignorance
Ignorance is a state of being uninformed . The word ignorant is an adjective describing a person in the state of being unaware and is often used as an insult...
. From the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
words σοφος (transliterated as sophos
Sophos
Sophos is a developer and vendor of security software and hardware, including anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, network access control, encryption software and data loss prevention for desktops, servers, email systems and other network gateways....
), meaning wise or clever, and μορος (transliterated as moros
Moros
In Greek mythology, Moros is the personification of impending doom, who drives mortals to their deadly fate. He is one of the offspring of Nyx , who had conceived him without male intervention, and brother of the Moirae ....
) meaning foolish or stupid, related to the word moron
Moron
Moron may refer to* Moron , disused term for a person with a mental age between 8 and 12, and a common insult for a person considered stupid * "Moron" * "Moron"...
. A sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
is a second-year student in a four-year course of study. The term originated in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but is now used principally in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Examples
American film director Judd ApatowJudd Apatow
Judd Apatow is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is well known for his work in comedy films, especially for films he has been involved with throughout the latter half of the 2000s. He is the founder of Apatow Productions, a film production company that also developed the...
's work, including The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up
Knocked Up
Knocked Up is a 2007 American romantic comedy drama film co-produced, written, and directed by Judd Apatow. Starring Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, and Leslie Mann, the film follows the repercussions of a drunken one-night stand between Rogen's slacker character and Heigl's just-promoted...
and Funny People
Funny People
Funny People is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written, co-produced and directed by Judd Apatow, and starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann. The film was released on 31 July 2009 in North America, and on 28 August 2009 in the United Kingdom. Funny People uses considerably more...
, has been described as using sophomoric humor, drawing laughs for jokes about sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
, penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
es, and bodily functions
Defecation
Defecation is the final act of digestion by which organisms eliminate solid, semisolid or liquid waste material from the digestive tract via the anus. Waves of muscular contraction known as peristalsis in the walls of the colon move fecal matter through the digestive tract towards the rectum...
. A critique of John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
's The Short Reign of Pippin IV
The Short Reign of Pippin IV
The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication is a novel by John Steinbeck published in 1957; his only political satire, the book pokes fun at French politics.-Plot summary:...
by Peter Lisca describes the story as lacking the burlesque humor of Tortilla Flat, the Rabelaisin humor of St. Katy the Virgin, the folk humor of Grapes of Wrath, the tender humor of Cannery Row, the "terrible" Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
ian humor of the Wayward Bus, and (instead) consisting of "a sophomoric humor of grotesque improbability and wordplay."