Teacher Guide

English Lesson Notes

143

Having Fun with Language

Lesson notes• To stereotype is to create a group identity based

on common characteristics. • In society we often form impressions of a specific

‘type’ of person depending on the job they do, the colour of their skin or even the types of clothes they wear and their accessories (e.g. briefcases, placards).

• Stereotypes can, however, be dangerous as they may reflect our prejudices. We therefore need to be careful with stereotypes, especially when they involve gender, race, nationality or cultural background.

Although stereotypes should be used with caution, they can be used to create humour. An example:

This cartoon uses a range of techniques to create humour.

• Irony: From the title of the cartoon “Rural Web Design” we expect to see a sophisticated business environment, however, the reality is the opposite of what we expect. The characters are sitting in front of a wooden computer designing a web page with scrapped washing machines and pick up trucks.

• Caricature: The accents and the way in which the characters are visually presented are exaggerated for humorous effect. Poverty and rural lack of sophistication are clearly suggested.

• Stereotype: This cartoon stereotypes farmers as being slow-witted and unsophisticated. Although we can not make this type of generalisation about all farmers the danger of this type of stereotyping is that it can promote views such as this.

• Satire: This cartoon is definitely mocking the rural, simple farmer. It is also, however, making fun of the computer world as a whole, in that even the simplest people have access to and rights to, the Internet.

StereotypingThis lesson focuses on stereotyping and differentiates between stereotyping that is used to strengthen prejudices through continuing to promote preconceived ideas about certain groups and stereotyping that is used light-heartedly to create humour.

Lesson OutcomesBy the end of this lesson, you should be able to:• define what stereotyping is• recognise stereotypes• understand different purposes of stereotyping• identify inappropriate stereotyping

Curriculum LinksLO 2: Reading and Viewing• recognise how language and images may reflect

and shape values and attitudes

? TASK1. Find a comic strip or a cartoon - you can look

in a newspaper or even ask your teacher to help you find one.

2. Analyse how humour works in the cartoon: a. analyse the title, the wording and the

picture b. identify examples of irony, caricature,

stereotype and / or satire.

LESSON

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