Discussion
The analysis of the dialogue between Keanu Reeves and Jimmy Fallon highlights how humor, politeness, and conversational dynamics play a role in shaping interactions in public media, such as talk shows. Fallon’s use of humor, often involving exaggerated praise and amusing anecdotes, reflects a positive politeness strategy as described by Brown and Levinson (1987).
Meanwhile, Reeves’s humble responses and self-deprecating humor demonstrate a negative politeness approach that emphasizes respect and deference to the interlocutor. These findings align with Holmes’s (2013) perspective that humor is often employed to foster solidarity and mitigate potential face-threatening acts. Fallon and Reeves complement each other in this strategy: Fallon creates a relaxed atmosphere through his energetic humor, while Reeves maintains balance with his calm and respectful responses.
Compared to Attardo’s (2017) study, which emphasizes the role of humor in generating entertainment value and building social bonds in media contexts, this analysis strengthens the argument that humor is not merely a tool for entertainment but also a mechanism for managing power dynamics in public interactions. Fallon, as the host, uses humor to assert his authority while maintaining an egalitarian relationship with his guest. This is consistent with Goffman’s (1959) concept of “performance” in social interactions, where participants’ awareness of the audience shapes the structure of their conversation.Furthermore, these findings add a new dimension to Kecskes’s (2014) research, which highlights the importance of context in shaping pragmatic meaning. In the interaction between Fallon and Reeves, the public media context creates additional pressure to balance politeness with entertainment. This is evident in Fallon’s off-record strategies, which embed implicit meanings without disrupting the conversational flow, as well as Reeves’s responses that often avoid direct confrontation.
