Episode #145 ... Bergson on Laughter pt. 1 - History
Sep 19, 2020
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Dive into the intriguing world of laughter through the lens of Henri Bergson! Explore how laughter intertwines with genuine happiness and its historical baggage from ancient Greek philosophy. Uncover the dual nature of laughter as it relates to comedy, tragedy, and societal reflections. Delve into prominent theories like superiority, relief, and incongruity, revealing laughter's diverse emotional functions. Finally, question the categorization of comedy itself while gaining insights into its deeper significance.
Henry Bergson's theory of laughter explains that comedy arises from the contrast between the rigid and dynamic aspects of human behavior, creating laughter.
Comedy serves as a powerful tool for societal critique and as a platform for absurdity, highlighting the dual nature of its role in society.
Deep dives
Bergson's Theory of Laughter
Henry Bergson's theory of laughter focuses on the concept that anything we find funny is because we are witnessing the mechanical encrusted upon the living. According to Bergson, comedy arises from seeing something that appears mechanical in human behavior, which is otherwise fluid and constantly in flux. This contrast between the rigid and the dynamic is what causes us to laugh. Bergson's theory synthesizes elements from the superiority, relief, and incongruity theories of laughter, while also emphasizing the social function of laughter in regulating societies and communities.
Theories of Laughter in History
Throughout history, various theories have been proposed to explain laughter. The superiority theory suggests that we laugh when we feel superior to someone or something. The relief theory suggests that laughter functions as a release valve for tension and helps us return to a state of balance. The incongruity theory proposes that laughter arises from the violation of expectations, with the resolution of the incongruity generating laughter. These theories have influenced our understanding of humor, but they do not provide a comprehensive explanation on their own.
Different Perspectives on Comedy
There are two contrasting perspectives on the role of comedy in society. One perspective sees comedy as a powerful tool for speaking truth to power, using humor to critique societal issues and challenge the status quo. Comedians, shows, and movies can use comedy to influence public consciousness and spark change. In contrast, the other perspective views comedy as a platform for the absurd and disingenuous, where laughter is the primary goal without necessarily conveying deeper messages. Both perspectives coexist under the umbrella of comedy, but finding a theory that explains why we laugh at both may help resolve this tension.