With more terms Superiority Theory The notion that all humor involves some play with the dichotomy of superior vs inferior Either we are made to feel superior to the butt of the joke or we see that ones sense of superiority makes them flawed think Colbert ID: 395857
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Slide1
Theories/Types of Humor
With more terms!Slide2
Superiority Theory
The notion that all humor involves some play with the dichotomy of superior vs. inferior.
Either we are made to feel superior to the butt of the joke or we see that one’s sense of superiority makes them flawed (think Colbert)
Examples:
Physical humor (someone falling down/walking into a wall)
Lack of intelligence (someone giving an answer the listener knows is inappropriate)Slide3
Relief Theory
The notion that humor serves as a release of excessive energy, fear, or tension
This can be nervous laughter as well as genuine laughter
Examples:
Lack of skill (someone
else
failing)
Dismissal of fear (the moment one realizes he is safe from danger/ridicule)Slide4
Incongruity Theory
The notion that an inconsistency between expectation and result, when our understanding cannot find satisfaction, elicits laughter.
This is the predominant theory of humor today.
Examples:
This encompasses MANY types of humor – even those relating to Superiority and Relief Theories.
Irony (see other notes)
Shock (think
The Hangover
, when they find Mike Tyson’s tiger in the bathroom)Slide5
Other terms to know
Black humor/Dark humor/Gallows humor
: comes from grim/tragic situations
Cynicism
: an overall attitude that things in the world are bad
Farce:
hard to believe and over-the-top
Lampoon
: to mock or make fun of
Parody
: humor where the style/traits of something well-known are mocked for effect
Scatological
: term for humor that relies on “bathroom functions”
Slapstick
: commonly interchanged with physical humor
Wit
: clever use of humor, usually very quick and pointed