Should people be taught to understand jokes?

I am thinking about activities for a new education website, and I wondering whether one of the activities should include learning the meaning of jokes.

EdB suggests that humour is a fundamental to the way the mind works, and it seems to me that if a child does not understand a particularly good joke then the teacher should be just as concerned as if that child could not do multiplication. (I do not claim that EdB supports my contention).

I am seeking opinions on this matter from others.

Specifically, here is a line attributed to Groucho Marx (and others):

"Military justice is to justice what military music is to music."

- Is this funny?
- If you think it's funny, could you explain why it's funny?
- Have you learnt anything from others' explanations of why it's funny?
- Should understanding this joke be part of formal education?

Tags: humour

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Phil Bachmann on February 6, 2012 at 9:00

First guess is that 50/50 means half for me and half for you.

Let me know if you want me to take more guesses. Does the photo provide any clues?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Phil Bachmann on February 7, 2012 at 9:18

This photo reminds me of a woman who had spent most of her life in the kitchen surrounded by children and food. She was told of the story of a baby who had climbed into a big pot and covered itself in the woman's favourite cooking condiment.

The woman, upon hearing this, laughed uproariously, even though most people would think it was only mildly amusing.

I think she would find this photo super funny.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Phil Bachmann on February 7, 2012 at 9:22

In Edward's Cockroaches book the humour is very gentle and I find no hint of tragedy.

But I agree that the high emotion of tragic circumstances can generate enough power to turn a wry smile into a belly-laugh.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Phil Bachmann on February 6, 2012 at 18:32

Hi Adonis,

I agree that each of us has deeply buried but powerful recollections that when trigged can make us laugh or get angry and people around us don't know what all the fuss is about.

Jokes, however, are funny to a whole range of people so perhaps they deserve special attention.

Yes, Mr Bean, being mute, does not suffer from translation problems, but perhaps people from remote Amazonian tribes would still have to learn about English culture in order to appreciate why the studio audience is laughing.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Asa Jomard on February 6, 2012 at 19:36

I seldom think jokes are funny. Most jokes are boring and I only laugh at jokes when I am tired. What does this mean? By the way, I often laugh at myself. . . . .

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kim Jones on February 7, 2012 at 9:45

Adonis: Charlie Chaplin, Mae West, Bill Cosby, Fanny Brice, Robin Williams, Will rogers, Bob Hope, to name a few.

You forgot Sacha Baron-Cohen (Borat/Bruno)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kim Jones on February 7, 2012 at 10:32

Adonis:What is funny for a Greek is Stupid for a Brit.

and they both came to Australia and gave the Aussies their combined sense of the ridiculous. Nick Giannopoulos - Adonis, look him up. There are some hilarious clips.

Go from him straight to Australia's First Lady Dame Edna Everidge and you will be in front of your screen a while, mate. I grew up amongst Greeks and Brits. Wogs 'n' Pommy Bastards. That's what I grew up with. I can smell the basil and the garlic and the Shepherd's Pie.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kim Jones on February 7, 2012 at 10:35

I imagine Mr Bachmann, the author of this fecund conversation, given he is from Melbourne Australia, a place which contains more Greeks than Athens, may have had a similar experience.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kim Jones on February 7, 2012 at 10:40

Just type Nick Giannopoulos into YT and watch the first clip. It's typical.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kim Jones on February 7, 2012 at 9:42

Just sling 'em an episode or two of "Absolutely Fabulous". Even cockroaches can understand why that's funny.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kim Jones on February 7, 2012 at 10:51

I am going for universality here. I am going to claim that everybody will BOTH understand AND find funny Dame Edna Everidge, perhaps the greatest drag act ever - Barrie Humphries, Oz comic genius. He channels a widowed Melbourne housewife. Personally I always keep a handkerchief around when he is on.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Franis on February 8, 2012 at 11:53

Here's a blogger who is really good at simplifying the essence of comedy:
http://hatchling.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-are-comedians-quick.html

another one, which I decided to collect this little course of seven blog posts into these links because I thought they had some really interesting stuff to say about comedy -how and why it happens. http://guyhasson.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/comedy-writing-tips-7-art...