a very short introduction Carroll, Noël 1947- creator author. text bibliography enk Oxford Oxford University Press 2014 2014 First edition. monographic eng

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126 pages : illustrations ; 18 cm Humour has been discovered in every known human culture and thinkers have discussed it for over two thousand years. Humour can serve many functions; it can be used to relieve stress, to promote goodwill among strangers, to dissipate tension within a fractious group, to display intelligence, and some have even claimed that it improves health and fights sickness. In this Very Short Introduction Noel Carroll examines the leading theories of humour including The Superiority Theory and The Incongruity Theory. He considers the relation of humour to emotion and cognition, and explores the value of humour, specifically in its social functions. He argues that humour, and the comic amusement that follows it, has a crucial role to play in the construction of communities, but he also demonstrates that the social aspect of humour raises questions such as 'When is humour immoral?' and 'Is laughing at immoral humour itself immoral?'. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. -- Provided by publisher. A very short introduction -- The nature of humour -- Humour, emotion, and cognition -- Humour and value. Noël Carroll. Includes bibliographical references (pages 118-121) and index. Wit and humor BF575.L3 C38 2014 152.43 CAH 2014 0199552223 9780199552221 2013947882 CDX 130814 20231116092114.0 eng