Relevance of humor - The Comic Dimension of Human Experience

Gerald Q.

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Humor - The Comic Dimension, Human Experience

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Abstract

This paper will explore the concert about the presence of gender and sexual stereotypes in popular sitcoms in the country. Specific references will be made to the popular series Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. The paper will show that appreciation for these sitcoms emanates from their cultural relevance and conclude that the stereotype jokes do not degrade the society. In fact, they are a useful tool in evaluating biases in the population.

Making fun at other people is wrong. According to Emeritus, it is one of the ways of generating humor, along with other forms of humor such as exaggerations and allusion. However, the most popular jokes are associative. Berger also shows that it is very hard to explain a joke (Berger xii) because something may be funny and then tragic, the difference between humor may not be appreciated by different groups. The context of humor therefore depends on the understanding of the participating groups and outsiders would find it difficult to understand the jokes (Berger 65-74). Therefore, stereotypes would not be funny if the target did not understand them. The implication is that the targets of the jokes are also the people who find them humorous. This paper will show that appreciation of sitcoms results from association to the jokes presented in these sitcoms and not poking fun at the people portrayed negatively by the stereotypes. In so doing, the paper hopes to show the cultural functions and relevance of humor.

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[...] For example, both Berger and Emeritus show how humor worked in the Jewish population of Eastern Europe. Jews were often the poorest people and therefore, the humblest. Their condition raised a particular kind of humor in these people that was aggressive as well as funny. For example, they often made fun of their poverty and perceived cheapness. These two traits were a major presence in their jokes. From the definition, stereotypes are generalizations that paint a particular image on a particular group of people. [...]

[...] It is offensive to feminists and other activists seeking to abolish stereotyping against certain groups of people. For example, in the television hit sitcoms, the big bang theory and two and a half men, there are stereotypes against women and academically gifted individuals. According to Berger, the mental image is more important in a joke that the element of truth. For example, there are funny jokes about politicians cast in different historical periods (Emeritus 2005). The source of humor is the context and the comparison to the politician's character rather than truth. [...]

[...] For example, jokes shared among a class of educated people may not be appreciated by nonprofessionals and vice versa. The jokes are also independent of gender if two people are sufficiently acquainted. Therefore, the issue of stereotypic jokes is irrelevant in the context of the jokes because these jokes reflect the views of the community. In fact, their presence may be a useful metric of measuring social changes because once the community stops appreciating the jokes they will disappear. Bibliography Berger, Peter L . Redeeming laughter: The Comic Dimension Of Human Experience. New York: Walter de Gruyter Print. [...]

[...] Relevance of humor - The Comic Dimension of Human Experience The Research Question: Why are specific jokes funny to specific people? Why are there significant variations in humor appreciated for different people/ Why do people appreciate humor in subject they consider inflammatory? What is the influence of culture on people's senses of humor? Can humor be used to make inferences about the biases of a community? Is a sense of humor a function of culture or can one developing new tastes? [...]

[...] In The Big Bang Theory, the social awkwardness of four scientists is contrasted to the social aptitude of Penny to create humor. All these rely on stereotypical views to allure to the viewers. This paper will also explore the perception of jokes in different populations. While specific people may find humor in certain jokes, others may be offended by the stereotypes of even impassive of the jokes (Raza 7). For example, the current stereotypes of women in sitcoms is perceived as posting a negative image by feminists yet the jokes are appreciated by the general population. [...]

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