Gain insight on the use of humor in your presentation by reading some signs from the March for Science.

Overhead view of protesters.

Sign of 'I heart science' using a drawing of a heart and valves.Susan says, “I’ve watched a lot of protest marches in these last three months. Aside from the sheer numbers of protesters at this science march, it’s the signs the protesters carry that impress me. The signs prove to me that we are a very clever lot. And while humor is the basis of many of the sentiments, it is humor that is deep with intelligence, irony, anger, thoughtfulness, fear, reference and audacity, too. In these times that are genuinely outrageous, it is our humor that helps us keep our balance.

March for Science' reads 'A woman's place is in the lab.'Humor has a place in presentations as well.

Just as humor is used in this protest to get people thinking, feeling, and laughing together, humor can fill the same purpose in a presentation. If you can use humor in your presentation, your audience is participating, getting it, getting relief from passivity. Just like these marchers.

 

Sign at 'March for Science' reads 'Listen to Data' with photo of Data from Star Trek

Sign at 'March for Science' reads 'I'm with her' with a arrow pointing to photo of the earth.

 

sign at March for Science' with quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson.The history of protests

Lucia says, ‘There are people who say that protesting is a waste of time. Nothing changes. Not true. Protests have a long history of brining about change. I urge you to read “Protest and Persist: Why Giving Up Hope is Not an Option”, an article from the Guardian Newspaper about the true impact of activism. IT’s a long read, but worth your time. Older couple at March for Science and man wearing small sign with quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson.

 Protests also bring us together.

We march for a common cause. We chant and carry signs. We laugh and talk. During my bus ride on the way to the March for Science, complete strangers were engaged in conversations. Even the bus driver thanked us for our participation in the protest. At the march we talked about the signs people carried or the hats they knitted for the occasion. One woman’s hat displayed a double helix. Neil deGrasse Tyson was quoted on many signs. And the play on words was evident everywhere. Voicing our opinions is a constitutional right that we take to the streets. And I agree with Susan that it is humor that gets us thinking, feeling, and laughing together.”

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