But it sure smells like a foot.
Okay, here’s my attempt at a “Joke Poo” version of that joke:
Joke Poo: It Might Not Be Prose…
But it sure resembles a poem!
Okay, let’s break down this joke:
Joke Analysis:
- Structure: It’s a classic setup-punchline structure.
- Setup: “It might not be 12 inches…” – This implies something phallic and immediately sets up an expectation of measurement, usually related to penis size. The implication is that someone is insecure about their size.
- Punchline: “…But it sure smells like a foot.” – This completely subverts the expectation. Instead of a comment about size, it’s about the smell, and the smell associated with feet, usually in a negative (unhygienic) way.
- Humor: The humor comes from the unexpected shift in focus. We are primed for an adult/sexual joke, but get a (potentially disgusting) comment about foot odor. The incongruity is what makes it funny. The implication of someone’s “private parts” smelling like a foot is also inherently silly and off-putting in a humorous way.
- Key Elements:
- Misdirection: The setup leads the listener down one path, only to be diverted.
- Incongruity: The association of genitalia with foot odor is unexpected and jarring.
- Euphemism/Implication: The joke relies on the listener understanding the implied subject without it being explicitly stated.
- The Senses: This joke relies heavily on the reader using his/her imagination with their senses to create the mental image of the joke
Comedic Enrichment – New Joke/Observation using related facts:
Factoid: Foot odor is caused by bacteria (primarily Brevibacterium linens) breaking down dead skin cells and releasing volatile organic compounds, including methanethiol (which smells like sulfur/rotten cabbage, hence the smell association with cheese). Brevibacterium linens is also used in the ripening process of some cheeses, especially Limburger!
New Joke:
I was worried about my dating profile. I kept trying to find a way to stand out with my body shape. My friend told me to stop being insecure and just post a picture of a Limburger cheese. I asked why. He said, “It may not be an appealing visual, but it’s bound to get you some feet pics.”
Why it works:
- Relies on the same elements: Builds on the original joke’s elements of misdirection and incongruity.
- Uses the factoid: The Limburger connection adds an extra layer of humor by connecting foot odor to cheese.
- Sexual double entendre: It plays on “feet pics” being a modern internet request, turning it into a pun related to feet/foot odor.
- Self deprecating: It builds on the implied insecurities found in the original joke, but plays that out in a social setting.