How Does Humor Use Humor - 1186 Words

For as long as I have been in school, there has been a negative stigma around laughing and making jokes in the classroom. As a potential psychology major, I am quite fascinated with why our brains work the way they do, and how they grow, develop, and learn. That is why I was so intrigued when research came out claiming that appropriate humor can be used as a tool in the classroom by alleviating anxiety, stress, and helping relate the content by using funny, real world examples. When an instructor successfully uses humor, the learning environment that is created can be a catalyst for success. Humor can alleviate anxiety, especially in second language classrooms. â€Å"First, Young (1991) argues that when students are asked to deliver their thoughts or idea in a foreign language in which they have limited competence, their performance can be very threatening to their self-image† (Deb 2). If you have taken a foreign language class, in which speaking in front of the class is required, you may have experienced the anxiety that comes along. â€Å"Will I slur my words, pronounce something wrong, or choke under the pressure and not say anything at all?† Are all thoughts that come into many second-language learners’ minds. When humor is utilized correctly and gets a positive reaction from students, such as smiling and laughing, it creates a light, non judgmental learning environment. In such environment, mistakes can be taken for what they are, instead of the person speaking thinking thatShow MoreRelatedGender, Gender And Gender Stereotypes1582 Words   |  7 Pagesstereotypes. These types of jokes seem to take center stage at any comedy performance or routine, and the audience loves it. Gender in association with humor brings up a great deal of questions. Do males and females see humor differently? Are there any similarities in the way the sexes view humor? And is there any truth to the thought that humans enjoy crass humor more than other types of jokes? These questions have been popping up in the scientific world, and researchers are trying to answer them. Even thoughRead MoreHumor And How Does It Affect Brand Imaging, Interpersonal Communication, And Overall Perceptions Of A Image Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesSection One: Humor is an interesting and diverse topic, especially when applied to the subject of persuasion. How it affects brand imaging, interpersonal communication, and overall perceptions of persuaders. Humor is unique in the sense that it is highly subjective. This subjectivity makes it a very tricky tactic to use in either advertisements or interpersonal persuasion. Humor has a very fluid definition that can vary by culture, gender, age, and religion. This essay will look into the historyRead MoreThe Superiority Theory Of Humor917 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many ways that people use humor. It has been used both in positive and negative ways. The negative, or more aggressive, view of humor is â€Å"evident in ancient writings† and â€Å"in the merciless teasing that children inflict on one another.†, However, in modern times, humor is now commonly seen as a positive aspect and that the laughter that arises is the â€Å"expression [an] incongruity.† Because of thes e two conflicting view of humor, there have been multiple theories proposed to explain it. ThereRead MoreAnalysis Of Cyrano De Bergerac By Edmond Rostand1179 Words   |  5 PagesEdmond Rostand s Cyrano de Bergerac is considered to be a Chivalric Romance but it also contains humor throughout. The play uses comedy throughout all of the acts for a variety of reasons. Cyrano who is the main character of the play is also the largest comic influence. With Cyrano, we see him develop through comedy and learn more about his character with it, and it is not only used by Cyrano but also many other characters. Comedy is used in a variety of ways throughout Cyrano de Bergerac such asRead MoreThe Use of Humor in Richard Iii by Shakespeare1327 Words   |  6 PagesThe Use of Humor in Richard III There is no doubt that Shakespeare was the author of great pieces of literature during an interesting time period. Given the circumstances, he was indeed mastering his craft during a very tumultuous juncture in British history. When one reads Richard III, they don’t necessarily have to know a great deal about the War of Roses to understand that there is some serious strife going on. However, if the reader takes some time to understand this fascinating string ofRead MoreHumor And Its Effects On American Society946 Words   |  4 Pages Humor can be regarded as an enjoyable experience of a mismatch between what people expect and what people experience (Stambor 1). Charlie Chaplin once said, â€Å"Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.† Is laughter a remedy for one s emotional well-being when encountering devastations and social injustice? The epitome test of this would be living in concentration camps where millions of people were enslaved during the Second World War. How can they survive mental and physical agonyRead MoreHow Humor Heals647 Words   |  3 PagesHow humor heals Introduction grabber: Charlie Chaplin once said, â€Å"To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it.† credibility: Through lots of research and experience I have came up with this conclusion, and when I did a research on this, I discover it is true. why: Have you ever need to cheer up, combat fear, feel more comfortable, relax, reduces pain or reduce stress? Well I have the solution. central idea: Laughter can make a person feel better, it’s truly the best medicineRead MoreThe Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, by Sherman Alexie1475 Words   |  6 PagesHeaven, author Sherman Alexie uses humor to reflect the life on the Spokane Reservation. In â€Å"A Drug Called Tradition,† the story starts with a joke by having Thomas sit down inside a refrigerator in response to Junior’s comment as to why the refrigerator is empty. The Indians are having a party hosted by Thomas, who gets a lot of money from a corporation for leasing some of his land. Alexie’s three second selves, Victor, Junior, and Thomas, later go to the Benjamin Lake and use the drug that Victor bringsRead MoreNeat People Vs Sloppy People By Suzanne Britt And Batting Clean Up And Striking Out1361 Words   |  6 Pageshumorist and reporter, David Barry take a whole new look on the dreaded aspects of cleaning. Britt and Barry chose to utilize humor in order to convey to the audience that everyone has a different way of living. Britt expresses the different lifestyles of sloppy people to the notorious neat people. Oppositely, Barry compares gender roles in order to see the differences between how males and females view the definition of â€Å"clean†. Britt and Barry strengthen their humorous tone by employing exaggerationRead MoreAmusement in â€Å"The Ransom of Red Chief†.600 Words   |  3 PagesRansom of Red Chief†. Dictionary.com defines humor as a comic and absurd quality causing amusement. O.Henry adds amusement in the short historical fiction story, â€Å"The Ransom of Red Chief†. O.Henry adds humor to his story through the use of literary devices. O.Henry uses allusion, word play, and irony to create levity in his story. All of these create levity but one that especially creates levity is allusion. First, Allusion is good for creating humor because by using prior knowledge it helps to