C.V.

Tag: #thehumorcode

Another Benign Violation: Scare Pranks

At some point we have all been the victim of an unexpected scare by a friend or family, which often ends with one or both parties laughing. This Mannequin Scare Prank shows how fear is typically replaced by laughter: According to the Benign Violation Theory, humor arises when something is wrong yet okay, threatening yet […]

The Humor Code’s Slate series revisited: Can comedy bring about real political change? (#6)

Can a chuckle be a catalyst for a revolution? Joel Warner and I take a look at whether humor is a thermometer or a thermostat: Let’s consider the case of Serbia in 1999. The small Balkan state was in its 10th year in the autocratic grip of President Slobodan Milošević. Four recent wars with neighboring […]