SUBJECT

     Humor is a significant characteristic of cultural systems. Although research on humor has been traditionally dominated by specialists in such fields as psychology, language and literature, this important social behavior has recently (since publication of “Humor and Laughter: An Anthropological Approach” by Mahadev L. Apte; Cornell University Press 1985) drawn attention of diversified group of anthropologists. Currently, anthropological studies of this topic are extended beyond conventional research on joking relations or religiously oriented themes (e.g., sacred clowns), delving into barely explored territory of biosocial and evolutionary aspects of humor; its intrinsic qualities of expressing, describing, and evaluating culture-based institutions, symbols, relations and values; and using humor as an important conceptual and methodological tool providing insights into behavioral patterns of any society. All these aspects of humor will be discussed in the class. 
     This course intends to introduce students to anthropology of both humor and laughter since these two terms, although closely associated, are not the same. While laughter is the most obvious indicator of going through humorous experience, it does not have to appear only in connection with the vocalized or visualized (conceptualized) humor. As such, laughter is not limited to humans (e.g., “tickling a chimpanzee”), but the question whether humor is remains open for discussion. Consequently, physical, physiological, clinical and psychological aspects of laughter will be presented as relevant to the discussion of conceptualized humor. 
     While this class does not intend to be funny, playful, amusing, etc., selected examples of conceptual humor from different cultures and time periods will be used.