Comedy, humour, Comedy, humour, laughterlaughter

• ““Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.” (E. B. White) of it.” (E. B. White)

• ““Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall down an open sewer and is when you fall down an open sewer and die.” (Mel Brooks) die.” (Mel Brooks)

• ““All tragedies are finished by a death,All tragedies are finished by a death, All comedies are ended by a marriage” All comedies are ended by a marriage” (Byron: (Byron: Don JuanDon Juan))

Kazuo Ishiguro: Kazuo Ishiguro: The Remains of the DayThe Remains of the Day (1989) (1989)• Mr Stevens and banteringMr Stevens and bantering• ““It is curious how people can build suvh warmth It is curious how people can build suvh warmth

among themselves so swiftly. It is possible that among themselves so swiftly. It is possible that these particular people are simply united by the these particular people are simply united by the anticipation of the eveninf ahead. But, then, I anticipation of the eveninf ahead. But, then, I rather fancy it has more to do with this skill of rather fancy it has more to do with this skill of bantering. Listening to them now, I can hear them bantering. Listening to them now, I can hear them exchanging one bantering remark after another. It exchanging one bantering remark after another. It is, I would suppose, the way many people like to is, I would suppose, the way many people like to proceed. ... Perhaps it is indeed time I began to proceed. ... Perhaps it is indeed time I began to look at this whole matter of bantering more look at this whole matter of bantering more enthusiastically. After all, when one thinks about it, enthusiastically. After all, when one thinks about it, it is not such a foolish thing to indulge in – it is not such a foolish thing to indulge in – particularly if it is the case that in bantering lies the particularly if it is the case that in bantering lies the key to human warmth” (245) key to human warmth” (245)

Humour: culturally embeddedHumour: culturally embedded

• L. Wittgenstein: “What is it like for people not to L. Wittgenstein: “What is it like for people not to have the same sense of humour? They do not have the same sense of humour? They do not react properly to each other. It’s as if there were react properly to each other. It’s as if there were a custom among certain people for one person a custom among certain people for one person to throw another a ball which he is supposed to to throw another a ball which he is supposed to catch and throw back; but some people, instead catch and throw back; but some people, instead of throwing it back, put it in their pocket” of throwing it back, put it in their pocket”

• (1) shared cultural codes (1) shared cultural codes • (2) situational context (pragmatics) (2) situational context (pragmatics)

e.g. protocols of joke tellinge.g. protocols of joke tellingaggressivity and humour aggressivity and humour

Cultural embeddednessCultural embeddedness

• (1) shared cultural codes (1) shared cultural codes

• (2) situational context (pragmatics) (2) situational context (pragmatics)

e.g. protocols of joke tellinge.g. protocols of joke telling

aggressivity and humouraggressivity and humour

termsterms

• Comedy Comedy

• The comic The comic

• Humour Humour

• Laughter Laughter

• Satire, farce, travesty, parody, irony, Satire, farce, travesty, parody, irony,

Theories of humourTheories of humour

• A. Looking at the object of humourA. Looking at the object of humour• (1) defect theory(1) defect theory• (2) contrast theory (2) contrast theory • B. Looking at the laughing subject B. Looking at the laughing subject • - relief/release theory - relief/release theory C. The relationship between object and subject C. The relationship between object and subject • - superiority theory- superiority theory• Defamiliarisation theoryDefamiliarisation theory• +commprehensive theories: Bergson, Freud +commprehensive theories: Bergson, Freud

Defect theoryDefect theory

• Aristotle: the comic is “some defect or Aristotle: the comic is “some defect or ugliness which is not painful or ugliness which is not painful or destructive”. destructive”.

• ““The ridiculous may be defined as a The ridiculous may be defined as a mistake or deformity not productive of pain mistake or deformity not productive of pain or harm to others; the mask, for instance, or harm to others; the mask, for instance, that excites laughter, is something ugly that excites laughter, is something ugly and distorted without causing pain.” and distorted without causing pain.” (Aristotle) (Aristotle)

Contrast theoryContrast theory

• incongruity, contradiction, discrepancy, incongruity, contradiction, discrepancy, incompatibilityincompatibility

• perception of sg incongruous perception of sg incongruous

• James Beattie, Kant, Schopenhauer, James Beattie, Kant, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard Kierkegaard

• Plato: contrast between one’s self-Plato: contrast between one’s self-evaluation and one’s real value (evaluation and one’s real value (miles miles gloriosusgloriosus) )

Contrast theory- levels of contrastContrast theory- levels of contrast• Vocal: portmanteau words (slithy) Vocal: portmanteau words (slithy) • Rhetorical: Zeugma: “breaking the Queen’s Rhetorical: Zeugma: “breaking the Queen’s

peace and a few heads” (Kipling)peace and a few heads” (Kipling)• Grammar vs rhetoric: Archie Bunker and his Grammar vs rhetoric: Archie Bunker and his

bowling shoes: „what is the difference”? bowling shoes: „what is the difference”? • Subject and style (travesty, burlesque) Subject and style (travesty, burlesque) • Anachronism Anachronism

Misrecognition (Gogol: Misrecognition (Gogol: The Inspector The Inspector GeneralGeneral) )

Salvador Dalí: Lobster-phone (1938)Salvador Dalí: Lobster-phone (1938)

incongruityincongruity

• Kant: “In everything that is to excite a lively Kant: “In everything that is to excite a lively convulsive laugh there must be something convulsive laugh there must be something absurd (in which the understanding, therefore, absurd (in which the understanding, therefore, can find no satisfaction). Laughter is an affection can find no satisfaction). Laughter is an affection arising from the sudden transformation of a arising from the sudden transformation of a strained expectation into nothing. This strained expectation into nothing. This transformation, which is certainly not enjoyable transformation, which is certainly not enjoyable to the understanding, yet indirectly gives it very to the understanding, yet indirectly gives it very active enjoyment for a moment. Therefore its active enjoyment for a moment. Therefore its cause must consist in the influence of the cause must consist in the influence of the representation upon the body, and the reflex representation upon the body, and the reflex effect of this upon the mind.” effect of this upon the mind.”

incongruityincongruity

• Schopenhauer: “The cause of laughter in Schopenhauer: “The cause of laughter in every case is simply the sudden every case is simply the sudden perception of the incongruity between a perception of the incongruity between a concept and the real objects which have concept and the real objects which have been thought through it in some relation, been thought through it in some relation, and laughter itself is just the expression of and laughter itself is just the expression of this incongruity.” this incongruity.”

• Incongruity – frustration of expectationsIncongruity – frustration of expectations

• Pleasure? Pleasure?

• Cognitive dissonance is disturbing Cognitive dissonance is disturbing

• Ambiguity tolerance Ambiguity tolerance

Cognitive dissonanceCognitive dissonance

Relief/release theoryRelief/release theory

• Lord Shaftesbury’s “The Freedom of Wit Lord Shaftesbury’s “The Freedom of Wit and Humour” (1711) and Humour” (1711)

• KantKant: “Laughter is an emotion that is : “Laughter is an emotion that is produced by the shattering of some produced by the shattering of some intense expectation.” intense expectation.”

• Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer: “On The Physiology of : “On The Physiology of Laughter” (1860) Laughter” (1860)

• Anticlimax (bathos)(Alexander Pope) Anticlimax (bathos)(Alexander Pope)

Superiority theorySuperiority theory““Sudden glory, is the passion which makes those Sudden glory, is the passion which makes those

grimaces called laughter; and is caused either by grimaces called laughter; and is caused either by some sudden act of their own, that pleases them; some sudden act of their own, that pleases them; or by the apprehension of some deformed thing or by the apprehension of some deformed thing in another, by comparison whereof they suddenly in another, by comparison whereof they suddenly applaud themselves. And it is incident most to applaud themselves. And it is incident most to them, that are conscious of the fewest abilities in them, that are conscious of the fewest abilities in themselves; who are forced to keep themselves themselves; who are forced to keep themselves in their own favor by observing the imperfections in their own favor by observing the imperfections of other men. And therefore much laughter at the of other men. And therefore much laughter at the defects of others, is a sign of pusillanimity. For of defects of others, is a sign of pusillanimity. For of great minds, one of the proper works is, to help great minds, one of the proper works is, to help and free others from scorn; and to compare and free others from scorn; and to compare themselves only with the most able” (Hobbes: themselves only with the most able” (Hobbes: LeviathanLeviathan) )

Superiority, irony, parodySuperiority, irony, parody

• „’„’You read much, John? You read much, John? • ’ ’Read what? Read what? • ’ ’Fiction. Fiction. • ’ ’Do you? Do you? • ’ ’Oh sure. It gives me all kinds of ideas. I like Oh sure. It gives me all kinds of ideas. I like

the sound and the fury,’ he added enigmatically. the sound and the fury,’ he added enigmatically. • That’s what rerading does to you: you start That’s what rerading does to you: you start

saying things like that. (Martin Amis: saying things like that. (Martin Amis: MoneyMoney) )

Freud:Freud:Jokes and Their Relation to Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconsciousthe Unconscious

• Joking, the comic and humourJoking, the comic and humour; in each, ; in each, laughter releases psychic energy which laughter releases psychic energy which turns out to be superfluousturns out to be superfluous

• ComicComic: energy of thinking (clowns) : energy of thinking (clowns)

• HumourHumour: energy of emotions (sympathy, : energy of emotions (sympathy, empathy which is, after all, not needed: empathy which is, after all, not needed: the pity is not needed and we laugh it off) the pity is not needed and we laugh it off)

• JokingJoking: repressed drives : repressed drives

FreudFreud

• Jokes: innocent (pleasure only) Jokes: innocent (pleasure only)

• and tendentious (violence and sexuality) and tendentious (violence and sexuality)

• Jokes: repressed desires getting around Jokes: repressed desires getting around censorshipcensorship

• Formal mechanisms + repressed drivesFormal mechanisms + repressed drives

Henri Bergson: Henri Bergson: LaughterLaughter (1900) (1900)

• Indifference: “a momentary numbness of Indifference: “a momentary numbness of the heart” the heart”

• Sy falls flat in the street Sy falls flat in the street

• ““the momentary transformation of a man the momentary transformation of a man into a thing”: mechanical rigidity into a thing”: mechanical rigidity

• Rigidity of body and mind Rigidity of body and mind

• Thales the astronomer who fell into a well Thales the astronomer who fell into a well while watching the starswhile watching the stars

• ““the behaviour of the body, its gestures the behaviour of the body, its gestures and movements are comic inasmuch as and movements are comic inasmuch as the body resembles a simple machine” the body resembles a simple machine”

• „„the mechanical encrusted on the living” the mechanical encrusted on the living”

Rigidity of mindRigidity of mind• ““In the newspaper they always give the age of In the newspaper they always give the age of

deceased persons but never the age of the deceased persons but never the age of the newly born. That doesn’t make sense” (Ionesco: newly born. That doesn’t make sense” (Ionesco: The Bald SopranoThe Bald Soprano) )

• Géronte: The heart is on the left-hand side, the Géronte: The heart is on the left-hand side, the liver on the right-hand side. liver on the right-hand side.

• Sganarelle: Yes, indeed, that’s how it used to be Sganarelle: Yes, indeed, that’s how it used to be with doctors of old. We, the new ones, however, with doctors of old. We, the new ones, however, have arranged medicine according to a different have arranged medicine according to a different system.” (Moliere system.” (Moliere Le médecin malgré luiLe médecin malgré lui))

Language: automatismsLanguage: automatisms

• Puns: the ‘body’ of language appearing Puns: the ‘body’ of language appearing • (joke is a secret language inside words – David (joke is a secret language inside words – David

Mitchell)Mitchell)• Eg typos Eg typos • „ „Officer accepting bride”; “szovjet állat”Officer accepting bride”; “szovjet állat”• MistranslationsMistranslations• spoonerism: „You have deliberately tasted two spoonerism: „You have deliberately tasted two

worms and you can leave Oxford by the town worms and you can leave Oxford by the town drain.” drain.”

•

• Comic rhymesComic rhymes

• Ogden Nash’s poem “Fleas”:Ogden Nash’s poem “Fleas”:

FleasFleas

AdamAdam

Had’em.Had’em.

• Jack aranylovon érkezett, Joe ezüstön, Jack aranylovon érkezett, Joe ezüstön, Charles bronzon.Charles bronzon.

• Be alert! England needs lerts. Be alert! England needs lerts.

• P. G. Wodehouse’s line, “If it’s feasible, P. G. Wodehouse’s line, “If it’s feasible, let’s fease it” let’s fease it”

• According to Freud, what comes between According to Freud, what comes between fear and sex? fear and sex?

• Marriage is not a word, but a sentence. Marriage is not a word, but a sentence.

• Harwich for the continent, Frinton for the Harwich for the continent, Frinton for the incontinent. incontinent.

• Karl Marx’s grave Karl Marx’s grave another Communist plot. another Communist plot.

• Education kills by degrees. Education kills by degrees.

• Tóth Gyula bádogos és vízvezetékszerelő. Tóth Gyula bádogos és vízvezetékszerelő.

• What is a myth? A female moth What is a myth? A female moth

• ““For sale: a mousetrap, with mice.”For sale: a mousetrap, with mice.”

• „„Friss báránybőr eladó. Özvegy Bárányné” Friss báránybőr eladó. Özvegy Bárányné”

Defamiliarisation theoryDefamiliarisation theory

• sg suddenly appears out of its normal, sg suddenly appears out of its normal, contextcontext

• Charlie Chaplin Charlie Chaplin

• Switching frames, cognitive functionSwitching frames, cognitive function

• Absurdity (elephant joke) Absurdity (elephant joke)

• Category switches (Tom and Jerry) Category switches (Tom and Jerry)

• Scale switch (Gulliver) Scale switch (Gulliver)

Contractual errorContractual error

• „’„’What shall we do?’ said Twoflower. What shall we do?’ said Twoflower.

• ’ ’Panic?’ said Rincewind hopefully.” Panic?’ said Rincewind hopefully.”

• Waiter! What is this fly doing in my soup? Waiter! What is this fly doing in my soup?

• It looks like beaststroke to me, sir. It looks like beaststroke to me, sir.

Louis Philippe (cartoon by Louis Philippe (cartoon by Daumier)Daumier)

Metaphor, comparison, humourMetaphor, comparison, humour

• Jean Paul Richter: a joke is a priest in disguise Jean Paul Richter: a joke is a priest in disguise who will join any couple in marriage who will join any couple in marriage

• (Vischer: „ especially couples whose marriage is (Vischer: „ especially couples whose marriage is frowned upon by their respective families”) frowned upon by their respective families”)

• You are like a wonderful bottle of wine You are like a wonderful bottle of wine • This lady resembles the Venus of Milo in many This lady resembles the Venus of Milo in many

respects: she is ancient, she has no teeth, and respects: she is ancient, she has no teeth, and there are a few white spots on her yellowish there are a few white spots on her yellowish bodybody

“ “ ʻA necromancer!’ said Rincewind. ʻA necromancer!’ said Rincewind. The old woman across the fire shrugged and pulled a pack The old woman across the fire shrugged and pulled a pack

of greasy cards from some unseen pocket. of greasy cards from some unseen pocket. Despite the deep frost outside, the atmosphere inside the Despite the deep frost outside, the atmosphere inside the

yurt was like a blacksmith’s armpit and the wizard was yurt was like a blacksmith’s armpit and the wizard was already sweating heavily. Horse dung made a good fuel, already sweating heavily. Horse dung made a good fuel, but the Horse People had a lot to learn about air but the Horse People had a lot to learn about air conditioning, starting with what it meant. conditioning, starting with what it meant.

’’What’s neck romance?’ she whispered. What’s neck romance?’ she whispered. ’’Necromancy. Talking to the dead,’ he expalined. Necromancy. Talking to the dead,’ he expalined. ’’Oh,’ she said, vaguely disappointed. Oh,’ she said, vaguely disappointed. They had dined on horse meat, horse cheese, horse black They had dined on horse meat, horse cheese, horse black

pudding, horse d’oeuvres and a thin beer that Rincewind pudding, horse d’oeuvres and a thin beer that Rincewind didn’t want to speculate about.” didn’t want to speculate about.”

Umberto Eco: Umberto Eco: The Name of the The Name of the RoseRose (1980) (1980)

• Aristotle’s lost book on comedy Aristotle’s lost book on comedy

• Brother Jorge Brother Jorge