|
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.
|