COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 At the end of this course students will:

1. Learn about positive and negative aspects of humor that shape and promulgate the so-called “traditional” views of and about the American society as based on numerous humorous material (verbal and visual) presented at each meeting (American humor that is more easily comprehended by American students is used to illustrate all theoretical and methodological issues discussed throughout the course). 2. Acquire knowledge and understanding of physiology of laughter as one of the least understood but most ancient and important parts of brain circuitry (subcortex) essential for survival and adaptation within biological constraints of any given organism. Sex and laughter (male perceived dominion as laugh-getters versus females as laugh-givers in search of a suitable sexual partner.
3. Become acquainted with the newest research on both human and animal laughter indicating that learning how to consciously control and/or trigger laughter has potentially unlimited benefits in treatments of numerous health diseases (e.g., ADHD, cancer, drug addictions, depression) as well as reducing social tensions and promoting conflict resolutions among various segments of any given society. Likelihood of developing depression in peoples of different ethnic and racial backgrounds as the result of both cultural and genetic factors. Access, availability, acceptance, and divergence of treatments in the U.S. as reflecting social inequalities.
4. Learn about the role of laughter and humor in human evolution: bipedalism and speech, (“Walkie-Talkie” theory of speech), language (genetics – FOXP2), cognitive humor as the result of evolutionary adaptiveness.
5. Acquire knowledge of theories on origins, mechanisms/techniques, and types of humor as the effective means of communication inter- and cross-culturally. “American Melting Pot” – creating and/or breaking barriers in communication through humor.
6. Learn about various ethnic groups and their in- and out perceptions as reflected by humor (stereotypes).
7. Be able to understand gender differences in laughter and humor perception/response as related to sexual behavior, aggression, and the reward center of the brain. Gender humor.
8. Learn about traditional (kinship based) and non-traditional joking relationships as the means of governing and maintaining any given society. Joking-relationships in the U.S. – creating new “minority” groups (e.g., “Golden Girls.”).
9. Review and discuss potential for “medically” induced laughter and/or humor in order to enhance overall functioning of our bodies or its parts, to repair broken circuits, and to induce positive moods and/or physical reactions to be held cumulatively when making positive behaviors our own. Equal treatment of and for all.
10. Be able to understand that humor is often challenging the existing social structures by being one of the most effective instruments of social control and/or conduits of social conflicts.
11. Be challenged to examine their understanding and applicability of such American symbols of democracy as freedom of speech, of artistic expression, tolerance, right to…, etc .