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Why are things funny? Analyzing the secret behind humor!


Well, this is a very tough topic to explain because different people have different perceptions about humor. What is funny to someone may not be funny to someone else. Let us try to break the code of why things are funny.

                                 Source: "Emoji Balloons" by Wicker Paradise - Under Commercial Use Allowed License

There is a very famous saying by Aristotle that – “The secret to humor is surprise” which I think is the most appropriate way we can describe humor.

I have listed below a few characteristics of why things are funny:

1)    #Surprise: One of the most common ways of creating something humorous is to lead the listener in a certain direction and then suddenly changing its route thereby creating the element of surprise and amusement.

2)    #Non-Threatening Violation: Something is funny when it breaks the usual society norms which is also not threatening.

When someone does something which is not supposed to be done, laughter comes out instinctively. But not all violations are funny. A violation is funny as long as it is not harmful. For ex – When a person makes an awkward noise (like sneezing loudly or singing out loud) in a room full of people we find that funny.

3)    #Things which are relatable: Humor also comes from something relatable. When we can relate to a person or thing in a good way, we find that amusing and that’s why it is funny. That is why most comedians try and present their acts in the most relatable way possible

4)    #Clever/Witty Remarks: We also find it funny when someone says something very clever or witty in a particular situation when we are least expecting it.

Please let me know if you can think of other reasons behind the reason of something being funny on the comments section.






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