The Humor Review

The Humor Review

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The Humor Review
The Humor Review
Repetition Can Keep Humor Fresh

Repetition Can Keep Humor Fresh

Why this 1971 essay still works despite gender-normative langue.

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Andrew Belfry
Nov 15, 2023
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The Humor Review
The Humor Review
Repetition Can Keep Humor Fresh
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Many writers avoid using too much repetition in their work because they fear being predictable or boring readers.

Judy Brady didn’t worry about that when she started twenty sentences with “I want a wife …” in her two-page 1971 essay “I Want a Wife.” Instead, she uses repetition to ensure that the work and the strong cultural critique within the essay are…

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