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Real World Reflection: Moira Rose, The Queen of Incongruity Theory


For my midterm project I focused on the concept of incongruity theory and the character of Moira Rose and how she so perfectly embodies what it is about! While re-watching the show, Schitt's Creek, I came across this episode of when David and Patrick get married a couple of days ago and I just knew that I had to do a deeper dive on it. 

First, I want to start off by describing what incongruity theory is! So, incongruity theory is, essentially, a sort of juxtaposition to the social norm. Incongruity Theory holds that humor results from a mental reaction to something unexpected, unusual, or odd in a nonthreatening way when an accepted norm or pattern is violated. The difference must be close enough to the norm to be nonthreatening, but different enough to be remarkable. This theory emphasizes cognition meaning that one must have the ability to rationally understand patterns of everyday reality to understand what pattern was violated and why it is humorous as a result. Pattern recognition is key. Our brains are always predicting the next outcome, so when a situation creates a different response, our brains momentarily sigh in relief due to our constant survival instinct and humor is found in this pause.

The episode that this scene is featured in is called, "Happy Ending". This particular episode is the series finale of the show and focuses heavily on the wedding of the characters, David and Patrick. In the scene Moira Rose is officiating the wedding and she's, well, wearing an interesting outfit.😂

Moira officiates David and Patrick's wedding in a priest-like outfit and she sticks out like a sore thumb amidst the guests who are in formal black and white attire. Her behavior and word choice while speaking to the room is also quite hilarious as it is so abnormal and unlike anything you would see at a "normal" wedding. This scene is a wonderful example of incongruity humor at work as you can visibly see the characters around her react to her appearance and behavior which emphasizes just how incongruent it is.




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