Baz Posted April 19, 2008 Report Posted April 19, 2008 Humor research has been handicapped by the lines of approached appliedby thinkers from antiquity to the present day. The main one being,using the word "humor" on a neurological level when it is merely aconstruct that has a vague, general meaning only applicable incultural intercourse. I have posted an essay on a Google Page: Laughing and crying asdisplacement activities: the implications for humor theory. Go to the site below, scroll down until you see the elephant and blindmen, and click on "A new theory of humor". Academic on HumorLinks I have attempted to show that viewing laughter as a displacementactivity (defined in the essay) and explaining why it is confusing touse the term humor in certain contexts, answers the major problemsencountered by humor researchers. I think you will enjoy the read. Tell me what you think. Basil Quote
InfiniteNow Posted April 19, 2008 Report Posted April 19, 2008 I've always seen it as a fundamental part of a socially grouped society. We have very complex and intricate social bonds which allow us to move forward successfully, while simultaneously leveraging others to increase the reproductive viability of ourselves and our offspring. So, you're in a group with an alpha. Sure is nice if you can make them laugh and forget about any real or imagined transgressions. You're in a difficult situation and the morale is low. You make the group laugh and suddenely they all like you more, and are more willing to share their (already limited) resources with you. There are countless examples along this line of reasoning, but overall, I see the biggest reasons as social, while some supplemental reasons being our need to increase pleasure. Quote
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