Alfred Hitchcock once said that puns are the highest form of literature. Yet most today would deem puns the lowest of common humor, let alone a kind of “literature.” What should we make of this “punundrum”? This course will explore a form of language well suited for both the erudite and the street-smart, from the various classifications of puns to the evolution of wordplay throughout history. The first class will explore the history of puns – from Babylonian epic to ancient Roman political oratory to Shakespeare – and how its status and usage have changed throughout time. The second class will take you through the various types of puns commonly in use today and their syntax, with plenty of exercise throughout in generating puns. The third class will investigate the modern state of puns, ranging from their usage in newspaper headlines to their role in censorship subversion in China to the psychology of “The Groan.” We will also examine the emergence of modern “pun-off” competitions, culminating in our very own pun-off for the class. If you are seeking to elicit admiration and groans from your peers, to finally figure out how dad jokes work, or to simply ruin lives, this course is for you.

Alfred Hitchcock once said that puns are the highest form of literature. This course will explore a form of language suited for both the erudite and the street-smart, from the various classifications of puns to the evolution of wordplay throughout history. Learn the difference between badinage, riposte, and dad jokes. If you are seeking to elicit admiration and groans from your peers, or to simply ruin lives, this course is for you.

Ever since an Ethiopian goatherd saw his flock jittering after tasting a strange fruit, coffee has captured our tastebuds and invigorated our imagination. Coffee today is a $100 billion dollar industry employing 25 million people from impoverished harvesters to hipster baristas. Throughout history, it has been an incredible driving force, and serves as a fascinating case study for global economics and cultural diffusion. Learn about how coffee may have accelerated the enlightenment, propelled global trade, and shaped the world since antiquity! And learn how to make specialty brew for yourself! Beans will be provided, as will mugs. Students entering with Starbucks venti mochaccinos will be politely asked to leave.

Alfred Hitchcock once said that puns are the highest form of literature. This course will explore a form of language suited for both the erudite and the street-smart, from the various classifications of puns to the evolution of wordplay throughout history. Learn the difference between badinage, riposte, and dad jokes. If you are seeking to elicit admiration and groans from your peers, or to simply ruin lives, this course is for you.

Ever since an Ethiopian goatherd saw his flock jittering after tasting a strange fruit, coffee has captured our tastebuds and invigorated our imagination. Coffee today is a $100 billion dollar industry employing 25 million people from impoverished harvesters to hipster baristas. Throughout history, it has been an incredible driving force, and serves as a fascinating case study for global economics and cultural diffusion. Learn about how coffee may have accelerated the enlightenment, propelled global trade, and shaped the world since antiquity! And learn how to make specialty brew for yourself! Beans will be provided, as will mugs. Students entering with Starbucks venti mochaccinos will be politely asked to leave.