Past Programs
Media, Information and Communication - 2006
What Makes Us Laugh?
30/11/2006
From the days of ancient Greek comedies being performed in large arenas to the cinema experience of Borat in excess, humour depends very much on context, on the political correctness of the day, and on personal taste.
So what makes us laugh, and what are the boundaries for humour? Do comics need to transgress boundaries to make people laugh, even if they're parodying themselves or their own gender or religious background? Why is political satire allowed to get away with cutting comments which political analysts can't, and why is satire important?
