Freud developed some interesting theories around ‘Jokework’ and wrote a very good book called Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious. Freud would’ve shared the authors’ intuition wrt joke telling and intent. Based on personal research done for a Master’s dissertation, popular comics in the realm of stand up comedy make more Joke’s about their own ethnicity (race isn’t a thing) followed by jokes about their own gender; cultural and political jokes came next. There were a few comics such as Russel Peters who however bucked the trend. He would make jokes about everyone. Very popular in international circles, his first few shows in India apparently didn’t go well. It took a while for Indian audiences to warm up to being made fun of. Of course now with acts such as Comicstan Indian comedy is going places.
Very useful area of research. Comedy is definitely a means to ameliorate ethnic and religious prejudice.
Let’s just do a study on anything and that will explain it,
God, I wish I had gone for that PhD in Interracial camping trips in South America during the rainy season after Christmas focusing on the grieving process of Pygmies in the Rain Forest.
Freud developed some interesting theories around ‘Jokework’ and wrote a very good book called Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious. Freud would’ve shared the authors’ intuition wrt joke telling and intent. Based on personal research done for a Master’s dissertation, popular comics in the realm of stand up comedy make more Joke’s about their own ethnicity (race isn’t a thing) followed by jokes about their own gender; cultural and political jokes came next. There were a few comics such as Russel Peters who however bucked the trend. He would make jokes about everyone. Very popular in international circles, his first few shows in India apparently didn’t go well. It took a while for Indian audiences to warm up to being made fun of. Of course now with acts such as Comicstan Indian comedy is going places.
Very useful area of research. Comedy is definitely a means to ameliorate ethnic and religious prejudice.
I believe that offensive humour can actually help break down barriers and challenge prejudice.
But the main question arises that can someone’s susceptibility to offence can trump someone’s right to free speech ?
Let’s just do a study on anything and that will explain it,
God, I wish I had gone for that PhD in Interracial camping trips in South America during the rainy season after Christmas focusing on the grieving process of Pygmies in the Rain Forest.
Mother could never tell a joke. Half way through, she would start laughing and – we loved her so much – we would all join in.