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We're all aware that there are stereotypes. The British are sharply sarcastic, the Americans are great at physical comedy, and the Japanese love puns. But is humour actually driven by culture to any meaningful extent? Couldn't it be more universal – or depend largely on the individual?
There are some good reasons to believe that there is such a thing as a national sense of humour. But let's start with what we actually have in common, by looking at the kinds of humour that most easily transcend borders.
Certain kinds of humour are more commonly used in circumstances that are international and multicultural in nature – such as airports. When it comes to onoard entertainment, airlines, in particular, are fond of humour that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries for obvious reasons. Slapstick humour and the bland but almost universally tolerable social transgressions and faux pas of Mr Bean permit a safe, gentle humour that we can all relate to. Also, the silent situational dilemmas of the Canadian Just for Laughs hidden camera reality television show has been a staple option for airlines for many years.
These have a broad reach and are probably unlikely to offend most people. Of course, an important component in their broad appeal is that they are not really based on language.
Humor is no laughing matter. Levity can kill. But can it also bind us together?
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 05 2017, @06:28AM (1 child)
America's sense of humor is anything that seriously hurts or harms the libtards/demoncrats. Followed closely by anything that hurts brown/yellow people or "furiners".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 05 2017, @07:22AM
anything that seriously hurts or harms the libtards/demoncrats.
That's not America! That is only Fox News! Which really, is why they are not funny. It is like listening to the jokes of high school jocks. Not enough intelligence to really be funny. This is why the Fox News attempt to clone The Daily Show was a royal disaster of a hot mess of shite sandwich. Not funny. Because, not smart. Conservatives are stupid and unfunny! Ha! Isn't that funny? No? Glad to see that you see how it doesn't work.