Theory of humor and jokes
Source: Der Witz und seine Beziehung zum Unterbewussten, Sigmund Freud
Theory of humor by Sigmund Freud
• Briefness is the body of the joke, yes, himself.
• The joke tells, what he tells, never in few, but ever in to few words. (Lipps) • Distinguishes between comic, joke and hoax
Theory of humor by Sigmund Freud
• Aggregation („Verdichtung“) • Usage of the namely material („Die Verwendung des nämlichen Materials“) • double meaning („Doppelsinn“) • Tendency of saving („Tendenz der Ersparnis“)
Theory of humor by Sigmund Freud
• Nonsense / error in reasoning („Denkfehler / Widersinn“) • to turn the tables on someone („Den Spieß umdrehen“) • Description by the opposite („Darstellung durchs Gegenteil“) • Allusion („Anspielung“)
Tendency of the joke
• Pleasure = Σ (content + joke benefit) • In general: jokes with and without tendency • Jokes with tendency seem to be more funny • Jokes with tendency are hostile, cynical or bawdy
bawdy = obszön cynical = zynisch hostile = feindselig
Tendency of the joke
Tendency of the joke
Tendency of the joke
The more „distance“ (between two topics) a joke covers, the better it is, due to the fact, that the listener doesn‘t have to „cover the distance“ himself.
Conclusion
• Different types of jokes • A joke is the benefit of spared psychological work • The more distant topics a joke connects, the more psychological work it saves and the more funny it seems to be • Jokes have some kind of life cycle (e.g. political jokes)
Some Facts
• American varity show based in New York city • Every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. • Broadcast by NBC • It primed on October 11, 1975 • Executive producer: Lorne Michaels • 634 episode on April 12, 2008
History and values
The spirit that Michaels was going for:
• • • • • • Raw On edge Political Conscious Alive Push boundaris
His goal was capturing the comedic zeitgeist of the era by creating a comedy show to capture the sensibilities of the emerging baby boom generation.
Structure
• • • • Presented by a weekly changing entertainer Show cast consists of several firm members Filled with supporting players and guests No continous storyline
Relevance
The New York Times:
“SNL is still most pervasive influence on the art of comedy in contemporary culture”
• Launching place for many major Aerican comedy stars Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin
• Spawned several movies Wayne‘s World, The Blues Brothers
Chuck Norris is using Myspace for taking the name of what he calls everything around you.
Honours
• 19 Emmy Awards -Nominated for more than 80 • George Foster Peabody Award • 7th on Entertainment Weekly‘s list of the Top 100 Entertainers of the past fifty years