Toward an Understanding of Humor as Popular Culture in American Society

Achmed the dead terrorist and humor in popular geopolitics

“…It can be deployed to correct or discipline group members, thus ensuring conformity with norms and expectations (Fine 1983;Morreall 1987;Robinson 1983). Humor also conveys group loyalty and facilitates group identity through shared meaning and references (Hall et al 1993;de Sousa 1987). The humor of one group is often directed at another as a way of dealing with, and responding to, social phenomenon and situations (Brown and Bryant 1983;Fine 1983;Hall et al 1993) such as occupation and totalitarian regimes (see Kuus 2008, for a geopolitical analysis of the character the good soldier Svejck and Central Europe).…”

“…Morreall (1987) equates the development of humor in society to a positive evolutionary adaptation, theorizing that the pleasurable appreciation of incongruity arose parallel to the development of abstract thought, facilitated critical thinking and conceptual representation, as well as creative solutions and rational approaches to problem solving. Humor also is considered a cultural universal, something present in some form in all human groups (Hall et al 1993). As such, humor and amusement are culturally and historically contingent social constructs in that relevance and perception are bound to group reference and experience (Boskin 1987;Fine 1983;Hall et al 1993).…”

“…Humor also is considered a cultural universal, something present in some form in all human groups (Hall et al 1993). As such, humor and amusement are culturally and historically contingent social constructs in that relevance and perception are bound to group reference and experience (Boskin 1987;Fine 1983;Hall et al 1993). Within groups humor is a cultural institution and is governed by rules, power structures, status, gender roles and taboos (Fine 1983).…”

“…In his analysis of ''spontaneous quasi-folk manifestations'' of popular humor, Mintz (1983, p. 141) finds that it is an adaptable, socially acceptable form of communication that allows people to express concerns and identity. Hall et al (1993) assert that popular humor by definition is democratic, in that to be popular it must be widely communicated, understood and appreciated across social groups.…”

“…Within groups humor is a cultural institution and is governed by rules, power structures, status, gender roles and taboos (Fine 1983). Humor is also a form of communication, and as such, has significant social implications (Chapman 1983;Fine 1983;Hall et al 1993).…”