lol

I'm sure everyone has experienced that social feux pas of blurting out what you think is going to be a hilarious joke...and no one laughs. In fact, people start awkwardly shuffling, coughing, pretending they didn't hear what you said. Someone asks, "did you really just say that?" Now, you have to justify your sense of humor, but the fact that you have to do ruins any chance that your joke will click with your audience. In the end, you decide it would be best to never talk again. It happens. Although the existence of humor, according to Critchley, is universal and timeless, types of humor are certainly not. While many individuals found Borat to be a hoot, I don't think a group of nuns would agree. Maybe they would. And that would be funny.

Arthur, staring Dudley Moore, is somewhat of a corny comedy. A rich alcoholic is told to marry this chick who will supposedly whip him into shape, but, alas, he falls in love with another, poor girl. Imagine Russell Brand playing the role of Arthur (which he does in the remake) and you'll understand the type of humor. Essentially, it's borderline offensive. Conservative viewers might even go so far as to use the word tasteless. While for some people, this sort of crass humor might elicit that "natural explosion" which Critchley goes into much depth about, for others, nothing happens. Instead, in some instances of crude humor, rage, embarrassment, or other emotions exist.

Generally, people surround themselves with people who, amongst other things, find the same things funny. As Critchley says, "a sense of humor is often what is felt to be best shared with people who are from the same place as us". In order to know that guidos and people from the Jersey Shore are funny, you have to be aware of what culture and society is both broadcasting and making fun of. In order to do so, you have to be interested in it, or at least interested in the critique of it. I coach a team of middle schoolers, and they'll make a joke about something middle schoolers joke about which I am completely ignorant (thank god) of. That ignorance clearly separates me from them and bonds them together. Critchley compares the sharing of jokes to a communal prayer, which I believe to be a very good analogy.

So, back to where I started, what is happening when you make an offensive or--worse--unfunny joke? You're expecting to elicit a laugh, at least a chuckle. Further, you're attempting to connect with your audience. Even further...for most people, I guess, you're attempting to prove yourself. First, you're trying to prove that you actually are funny, because it's an admirable trait. Second, it shows that you're aware--either of yourself, of the world, society, etc. That awareness, the ability to read what's around you and transform it into humor is something that is cherished in our society. While we might laugh at the character Arthur for being a silly drunk, he makes really smart jokes which we find to be cheeky and funny. The serious, or "unfunny" characters in the movie don't have the same ability to say something smart after someone (unintentionally) sets them up for the possibility of a joke.


Of course, when you hear a joke that makes you laugh, rarely will you be thinking, "I am laughing at this because this individual has touched upon several aspects of society and has critiqued it in a manner which is humorous because X). And the fact that that doesn't happen makes humor and humorous individuals so cherished.