RRR.01 - Bo Burnham, “That Funny Feeling”

RRR.01 - Irony &

Bo Burnham

By Russell Smith

Open Ended

Look through the pictures on the irony handout. All of them depict ironic situations. Based on that evidence, create a definition for irony and describe how at least two of the photos depict irony.

Open Ended

What’s ironic about the character of Marlin (the dad) in this scene from Finding Nemo?

Open Ended

What’s ironic about the character Remy

(the rat) in Ratatouille?

Open Ended

WRITE A PARAGRAPH describing the irony of Bo Burnham’s style in “How the World Works.”

Multiple Choice

FILL IN THE BLANK: “That Funny Feeling” is full of __________, e.g. in the line “And obeying all the traffic laws in Grand Theft Auto V.” This is a quick reference to something that a reader has to already know in order to "get."

• allusions

• alliterations

• crescendos

• ironies

Open Ended

Define “allusion.”

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best example of AGITPROP?

• a painting showing a politician in a positive light

• a high school play written by the students at the school

• a romantic comedy with an unusual twist

• a piece of music played during a wedding ceremony

Open Ended

Burnham’s style in “That Funny Feeling” could be called “allusive,” since he’s relying so heavily on allusions. Given this, what can you infer about his intended audience? (That is, what kind of listeners do you think he is writing for?)

Open Ended

What is Burnham suggesting by the juxtaposition of “easy answers” with the other images at the beginning of this stanza? What is he alluding to?

Open Ended

And what does all of this have to do with “civil war”?

Open Ended

What is Burnham suggesting about mental illness in his song?

Open Ended

What are some aspects of modern life that are making Burnham anxious? Identify at least one. (There’s quite a list!)