Although modern science has allowed us to develop many complex medicines, laughter is still the strongest one available in the real world and in the book. Laughter proves to be a strong medicine in more ways than one and is completely free, allowing anyone to use it at anytime. It allows us to connect socially with people, it can be used as a way of overthrowing power, and it is good for your health. As Randle McMurphy showed in the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, laughter can lighten the mood in the darkest situations.
Similar to many other lively pleasures, humor can only be experienced if it resonates with a person. Without some kind of comprehension, there cannot be any type of reaction. Only once an outlandish statement, inappropriate remark, or unexpected situation, is remotely understood will a person be able to label it comical or sober. Since there are billions of people worldwide with their own languages including it’s respective idioms, euphemisms, the age old saying of “there is truth in every joke” applies to each culture individually.
Steve Almond’s “Funny is the New Deep” talks of the role that comedy has in our current society, and most certainly, it plays a huge role here. Namely, through what Almond [Aristotle?] calls the “comic impulse”, we as a people can speak of topics that would otherwise make many of uncomfortable. Almond deems the comic impulse as the most surefire way to keep heavy situations from becoming too foreboding. The comic impulse itself stems from our ability and unconscious need to defend and thus contend with the feeling of tragedy. As such, instead of rather forcing out humor, he implies that humor is something that is not consciously forced out from an author, but instead is more of a subconscious entity, coming out on its own. Almond emphasizes
Almost every major figure in the history of philosophy has proposed a theory, but after two centuries of discussion there has been little consensus about what constitutes humor. The topic of humor is currently understudied in the discipline of philosophy. Scope and significance of the study of humor but they are the three main theory (Aaron). The three primary mechanisms that create laughter are the superiority theory, relief theory, and incongruity theory.
Have people ever wondered why they laugh when there is something funny said? Why people laugh has always been a big mystery up until a few years ago. According to a PhD titled Robert Provine, laughter has always and will always be known to mankind. Humor has made a great effect on many people, and inside of it consists of love, and kindness.Everyone knows how to laugh, people do not have to learn how to laugh. Humor and laughter comes naturally to most humans. “Why we laugh is simple, the answer is humor” (nbcnews.com). Humor comes from the word humorous. “At first, the word humorous came from referring to the body’s language and moods, but then it transitioned to the words we speak that laughter is the source of” (Vocabulary.com). Humor means the quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech (Google Search)
The results show in these chart indicate that there is no cultural gender difference in expression humor or laughter. However, there is difference in what all culture believe humor is. This information is important because it explains why something are important to some culture and not to another. The authors agrees when they quote “in Japan, unlike in the United States, humor is not considered an important coping device. American media praise the use of humor [regardless of occupation] especially applied situation of stress and illness” (as cited in Ofra Nevo and Baruch Nevo 2001 pg. 153). In sum, all cultural have their own way (reason) to express laughter, but neither less, all culture express humor or laughter at the same rate. One might ask, how did different perspective of laughter occur? The answer is simple, our behavior were shaped by observing the word before can walk and talk.
Without humor Romeo and Juliet would be even more depressing than it already is. Life is the same way. Without humor, life would be sad and boring. Humor corresponds with entertainment. When a person is sad, someone makes them laugh. Whether they make them laugh by telling a joke or making a funny face, comedy is the first resort to make any person happy.
Gruner, Charles R. (1997). The game of humor – A comprehensive theory of why we laugh, Chapter 7 (Superiority Theory & Relief Theory). New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.
Laughter is an interesting topic. Mainly because of the lack of thought that goes with it as to why we laugh. In an article titled Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson, the theory behind why things are funny is explored. He mentions many different things in his article pertaining to the comic, however, there are a few that stand out more than others. He talks directly about the fact that things are only funny if they relate to humans. Then he touches on the idea that accidents are funnier than planned events. Finally, he speaks on laughter being directly related to social setting. The 1992 film Noises Off is a perfect demonstration of everything that Bergson writes about. Henri Bergson’s essay on laughter is perfectly supported by the film Noises Off.
I agree that what we find funny, changes as we grow older and more intellectual. One element that Morreall believes is False Alarm laughter. False Alarm laughter is common in children and adults today (Morreall 29). False alarm laughter is when a person approaches threatening situation to find that it is not actually threatening, but rather funny. This happens in the movie skit when Nathan and Mikey’s father walk in on everybody screaming. Nathan and Mikey’s father starts to panic because he believes there is a threatening situation. Once Mikey tells his father that Nathans date is on her period, he is rather
Comedy differs in the mood it approaches and addresses life. It presents situations which deal with common ground of man’s social experience rather than limits of his behaviour – it is not life in the tragic mode, lived at the difficult and perilous limits of the human condition.
Laughter is an essential human phenomenon. Smiling in response to pleasant physical conditions occurs in early development, usually in the first month of life. As a motor reflex, laughter is usually present by the time a child is 4 months old. By the age of eighteen months, a child smiles once every six minutes, and by four years of age, the rate increases to one smile every one and one-third minutes. The ratio of laughs to smiles increases from one laugh to every ten smiles as eighteen months to one every three smile at four years. The individual differences in the rate of both laughing and smiling become greater as the children grow older. (Stearns, 1972) The instinctual development of smiling and laughing occurs very early in life, suggesting a high level of importance.
Laughter therapy started in the 1970s and is a non-invasive, complementary and alternative therapy (Cousins,1976) Laughter therapy, which uses humour to improve quality of life, decrease pain, reduce stress and has become a therapy trend according to recent studies (Weiss,2002;Balick&Lee,2003;Bennett,Zeller,Rosenberg,&McCann.2003 MacDonald,2004;) The merits of this therapy are that it is easy to recommend and does not cause contrary effects with respect to side effects dose, allergies, and (Strean,2009) Around the world, there are several laughter therapy clinics operated with the purpose of emancipating anti-stress and increasing happiness by practicing laughter,( Ghodsbin, Ahmadi, Jahanbin,
If there is one way to bring a smile to someone’s face, it is laughter. Funny jokes, comical stunts, sarcasm- Every person is different when it comes to what makes them laugh. Some find dry humor comical. Others think sarcasm or joke-filled ranting are the best. ‘Comedy’ is such a broad term, broad enough to allow everyone to find something they find comical. In fact, ‘comedy’ includes a specific type of drama, one where the protagonist is joyful and happy endings are expected. Comedy is like a drug; it allows you to escape reality. When we say the word ‘comedy’ in the present, we are generally referring to a type of performance which provides humor. However, in its broadest sense, comedy has only one purpose: comedy makes people smile and
Humor is the tendency to look at things from the mirthful or incongruous side. It is the quality that makes something laughable or amusing. Humor is the ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing or comical. It is the source of laughter and the catalyst of smiles. Humor is the spark that lights our eyes as well as the cause of tears that never grows old. Humor is a state of mind.