Bad Comedians

This week's lecture was on bad comedians and was very entertaining. It was interesting to find out that jokes can't be racist as they don't make a statement of fact, they are by their very nature a joke. I had never thought of it like that. I have always really disliked Bernard Manning for what i percieved as his racist jokes, although i must admit i do still find his material largely offensive. However, looking at some of the theories on comedy and the useful purposes they serve; such as raising taboos for discussion etc. I will think differently.

I agree with Incongruity theory, i think sometimes i laugh at a joke because of that sudden shock when you hear the punchline and realise the contrast in material...that is what makes it funny and i'd never noticed that before.

Superiority Theory also raised some interesting points and i agree that as humans we like to use humour to put others down and gain that sense of superiority. When we can laugh at someone else's misfortune it makes us feel better. Though sometimes it also makes us feel better if we can laugh at our own misfortune as well; serving as a coping mechanism.

I very much agree with relief theory also. Humour serves as a defence and in my work as a counsellor i encounter it all the time. Clients will often make jokes about the difficulties in their lives; it serves as a way of coping and of broaching difficult subject material. In fact i would say it is almost essential for some people's survival; when they can no longer laugh at life, it's the time to worry. Freud spoke a lot of truth!!