What Makes Us Laugh
The study of humor and
what makes something "funny" is a subject that has been asked by many
throughout the ages.
"Human beings appear to laugh at pain and suffering, at their own discomfort
and frailty and weaknesses," according to Bernie Allen, a long-time
professional comedian.
Another professional comedian, Alan King, once attempted to
answer that question by citing Freud and pseudo-intellectualizing about the nature
of comedy.
But I believe that Bernie is correct, if you add one more part
and that is all good jokes have a hook and a twist
First, you bring the listener along a mental road that leads them to develop one
set of expectations for what is going to
happen next. Then at the key moment, you throw them a twist that denies them that expectation and carries them
in an entirely different direction. I believe that most jokes can be analyzed
and will conform to that theory.
I believe the following story is an example of that kind of humor:
A TOUCHING STORY OF LOVE AND
MARRIAGE
An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma
of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs.
He gathered his remaining strength, and
lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he
slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself
down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored breath,
he leaned against the door-frame, gazing into the kitchen.
Spread out upon newspapers on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his
favorite chocolate chip cookies.
Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table. His parched
lips parted; the wondrous taste of the cookie was already in his mouth; seemingly bringing him back to life. The aged and withered hand, shakingly made its way to a cookie
at the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his
wife.
"Stay out of those," she said, "they're for the funeral."
Story received from different sources via e-mail, author not known
OPINION:
I disagree, humor has more to it than a hook
and a twist. The best humor is not questionable that it is funny, but
makes you start laughing. The cookie joke could be very sad to some, and not at all
funny. When humor is done right
even people who don't like jokes laugh.
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