PS 3693 Humor and Modern Media

3 Credits

Humor is considered one of the most pleasurable positive emotions. The questions asked will include: What makes something funny? Why do people find someone falling down funny in one culture and tragic in another? What are the cross-cultural implications of humor and how have they been affected by a global worldview? How has the Internet changed our view of humor, now that technologies like YouTube make it possible for anyone to be a director or cinematographer with a worldwide audience? Topics will include psychoanalysis; superiority; reversal theories of humor; the psychology and psychobiology of humor; and humor, laughter and mental health.

Prerequisite(s): EW 1023 or EN 1233W or EN 1203H .
Note: Satisfies a humanities and social sciences elective.