Course Description

What makes us laugh? How can we fail to “get” a punch line? And why is it so annoying to have to explain a joke? Humor, jokes and the laughter they provoke often work at a level of immediacy, foregoing conscious understanding and critical reflection. From Bergson to Freud, thinkers and critics have taken interest in laughter’s relation to the unconscious as well as in its social and linguistic implications. Based on a selection of texts and films, this online seminar explores why comedy ranks as one of the oldest genres in literature and as one of the most popular in film.

Course Reviews

Reviews coming soon.