"It was with the goal of developing a new, more satisfactory comedic axiom that (University of Colorado professor Peter) McGraw launched “HuRL”. Working with his collaborator Caleb Warren and building from a 1998 HUMOR article published by a linguist named Thomas Veatch, he hit upon the benign violation theory, the idea that humor arises when something seems wrong or threatening, but is simultaneously OK or safe.
McGraw’s theory has another benefit going for it. Unlike other major humor theories, it does a good job delineating why some things aren’t funny. A joke can fail in one of two ways: It can be too benign, and therefore boring, or it can be too much of a violation, and therefore offensive. To be funny, a joke has to land in that sweet spot between the two extremes.
complete article: What, exactly, makes something funny? A bold new attempt at a unified theory of comedy."
By Peter McGraw and Joel Warner
www.slate.com
complete article: What, exactly, makes something funny? A bold new attempt at a unified theory of comedy."
By Peter McGraw and Joel Warner
www.slate.com