Sunday 29 April 2012

What stuff is humour made of?

Many times, I have wondered, What makes humour or rather What stuff makes humour? What ticks people and why do we laugh at some jokes while finding the others stale and worthless. There was a time when I didn't take very well at those who laughed and laughed. I always assumed that those who laugh all the time are people who can never do anything serious. I despised such people. Now, don't think that I did not enjoy a good laugh. I did. I laughed too but not all the time. As I am growing older, I have realised that laughing is a great thing. Now, even at the slightest pretext, I can laugh with reckless abandon. But what makes humour humour? No, it wasn't a typos. What tingles the mind to laugh away? Across the board, I have observed that humour associated with sexual innuendos are the ones which make people laugh and laugh. Now, when I say sexual innuendos, don't get over-imaginative about explicit scenes. One can even refer to a simple comment which is sexual but in the garb of an innuendo! One needs to be extremely creative and witty when it comes to innuendos.


Now, why does sex create so much laughter. IT has to be the last thing that causes laughter as it is something intimate and personal but that's not the case. I guess it's also a universal phenomenon -- every country's citizens bond and laugh over jokes on sexuality. As much as it amazes me, I have to agree that I also seem to laugh at jokes which are aimed at the groin. I wonder why. Of course, there are many topics which provoke laughter but every other topic boils down to sex and sexuality. It is also quite strange because as a country, India has to come a long way in accepting that talking about sex and sexuality is not taboo. Inspite of topics on sex being taboo, jokes on sexuality is not taboo -- right from the naughty aunty who teases the newly married woman to the girl in the fourth grade who laughs when she sees two dogs in heat, everyone seems to enjoy laughing when it comes to intimacy.

The surprise or rather shock factor is doubled when I see the West also enjoying the same topics inspite of sex not being a taboo subject. Many Hollywood movies have men (single and married) enjoying a joke or two while bonding with their friends and sometimes even colleagues. Sometimes spouses also partake in laughter over jokes on sex.

I find it quite amusing and relaxing to find that atleast in jokes we discuss the taboo openly albeit in innuendos!!

Well, laughter is good, no matter how :)

So, what's your take on this?

Image: Internet

23 comments:

  1. We are a funny species indeed. We give funny sexy names to cyclones and twisters. While culture discourse of sexuality is banned outside the confines of marriage we deftly pick it up and coat it with spice.. package it in humor and make a mockery of it. I wonder if its just the joke in itself that makes us laugh or giggle at humor loaded with sex.. its the vicarious pleasure of breaking cultural rules (power games ) when we take it out of the bedroom put it on public display and have a hearty laugh around tit.

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    1. Glad that we are laughing at the cost of sex. But sometimes it does get a tad too much. Glad to see your comment, BG.

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  2. An outcome of yesterday's Meet, perhaps? ;)

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    1. Definitely, Sowmya. The meet gave me a lot to ponder upon.

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  3. I plead guilty - of using sexual innuendos for humor. :)) Also, I realize humor lies in eschewing expectations, like students have certain notions about what is usually acceptable for a teacher to do or say, and if you deviate from that, it elicits laughter.

    So I think humor is not innate in a joke (one person might find a certain joke very funny; another may not at all - or it's even possible for the same person to laugh at one joke at one time and not find it funny the next). Humor is in the context - the state of mind of the hearer, the delivery or persona of the joker, the social environment, etc. But that's over-analyzing it. If a joke makes you laugh, then go! Hihihihi.

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    1. Even I use them liberally, Age. Quite right, Age. One should actually do a sociological research on cultural and universal homour.

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  4. humour is well a big big subject, it also depends on people but as you say sex jokes are very common and seem to ammuse all.. I think you put it very well.

    its a taboo BUt all want to talk about to so the best way is talk in a joke so no one gets offended and if they do its easy to say Oh it was only a joke ...

    Bikram's

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    1. I guess just because it's taboo, people like discussing the same without actual reference. I wonder what jokes did the ancients laugh to.

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  5. I'm also someone who laughs a lot. I'm just a happy person. :) As for jokes, my favourite laugh-out-loud jokes have got to be one-liners with punch-lines. The 'eats shoots and leaves' punctuation joke had me giggling for atleast ten minutes. On the other hand, elaborate jokes can also be highly funny. :D

    As for innuendos and sex jokes, I think the reason they come across as funny is because it's a universal topic like you said, but also probably that it's funny to make light of what is a heavy-duty situation for most people. It lightens things up - helps to lessen the discomfort that people might otherwise feel. I always think it's a positive thing but then, there are some people who find it offensive or in bad taste. But it's admittedly a difficult thing - to walk the thin line between being funny and being cheap or offensive.

    Which is why I appreciate stand-up comedians. They have a really great talent for making people laugh. Perhaps because they can poke fun at themselves as much as they do at others. Self-deprecation is a very charming quality that way. :)

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    1. Ah, even I laugh a lot these days which my mother finds absolutely amusing. I can laugh at the drop of a hat which sometimes unnerves people. The line is definitely a thin one b/w being funny and cheap.

      And, stand-up comedians. Fancy being one, K?

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    2. Hadn't thought about it until now. But seriously, you should watch me trying to tell a joke. I dissolve into laughter before I've even reached the punchline just from thinking about it! :D

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  6. Where would we be without a sense of humor? :) Another topic that seems to gander laughter, especially with children, is anything that deals with bodily functions: burping, passing gas; you get the idea.
    And, with sex, I think it's because we are such sexual beings, part of the "release" is to make fun of such intense emotions. We are laughing at ourselves. :)
    Blessings and thanks for another thought-provoking post!

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    1. Laughing is good, you see Martha but not at anyone but at humanness.

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  7. Humor is such an interesting topic! I find it interesting how humor affects relationships and different cultures. I see it often with my husband. Things that I find funny is not funny to him. He has a very dry and serious sense of humor and me on the other hand find our South African humor hilarious. Great post Susan!

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    1. Culture plays a greater role in our humour, I reckon but the topic of sex is always universal.

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  8. A man is walking behind his wife and says, "Baby you are so fat now your bum looks like a washing machine." The woman keeps quiet and keeps walking. Bed time: the man is asking for sex. The woman says, "I can't start the washing machine for such a small load. you'll have to hand wash."
    Hope that made you laugh Susan. Love reading your thought provoking posts.

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    1. Ha Ha Ha. Thanks Rimly.
      Thanks for your lovely words, Rimly.
      Have a lovely weekend.

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  9. Laughter is the cure for all ills, and those who laugh the loudest are the most troubled inside. Humor lets us forget our problems and just enjoy the moment.People who can laugh at themselves are the best and bring a house down with their jokes, sexual or other kind.

    http://sulekharawat.com/2012/04/30/zero-tolerance/

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    1. Absolutely, Sulekkha. I seem to enjoy jokes of all kind - religious, sexual, family, and others. Wonder if we could do a research of different topics on jokes!!!

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  10. Interesting topic. I agree that laughter is good no matter what. Jokes seem to be funniest when they have some truth in them. Guess we all like to laugh at ourselves. The sexual innuendos could be funny because they are about something so private.

    Now I'll be thinking about this all day. You come up with topics that provoke more consideration. I'm so happy to read your posts always.

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    1. Myrna, I so look forward to your comments. Thanks for them. They always leave me happy happy. The private always induces more laughter.

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  11. Haha I was just going to mention what Martha did! Bodily functions is another biggie..even for some adults! Gotta love our human tendencies. I love how humor can really cause a moment of shared understanding to erupt, as both parties who break out in spontaneous laughter both "get" it.

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    1. I know. Anything that concerns humans is a great reason to laugh. Just observing a person for five minutes provokes so much laughter.

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