the Garfield Principle

The Garfield Principle is a concept in comedy and media that observes how the humor of a scene or joke can often remain effective or even become funnier when the original punchline or resolve is removed, leaving only the setup. In the context of the comic strip "Garfield," it refers to the practice of isolating Garfield’s reactions or non-sequiturs, emphasizing humor that depends solely on the character's expressions and attitude rather than the full story. This principle highlights how the character’s personality and comedic timing can generate humor independently of the original situational context.