Theories of Humor

Paper Summary:

This paper explains the three theories of humor - using research from several sources for a diversity of definitions - and then examines specific humor excerpts from the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" DVD. The excerpts are analyzed using material from Francis Hutcheson, Immanuel Kant, John Morreall, Michael Clark and Sigmund Freud. The three theories discussed are: The Incongruity Theory, the Relief Theory and the Superiority Theory.

From the Paper:

"Michael Clark in his essay, "The Rejection of Humor in Western Thought" writes that laughter and humor should not be seen as the same thing. Clark says philosophers sometimes see laughter "as a form or scorn and humiliation..." and further believes that "to ridicule and humiliate another person just because doing so makes you feel better about yourself, is antisocial at best and curl at worst." By saying a married man rarely has sex with his wife, and that a gay man likewise can't remember the last time he had sex with a woman (since likely he has never had intercourse with a female), Foxworthy is creating laughter by ridiculing both men."

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