The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh
Gruner, Charles R.
ISBN 10: 0765806592 ISBN 13: 9780765806598
Published by Routledge, 1999
New
Soft cover
From
Ria Christie Collections, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
AbeBooks Seller since March 25, 2015
This specific item is no longer available.
About this Item
Description:
In. Seller Inventory # ria9780765806598_new
Synopsis:
Humor, wit, and laughter surround each person. From everyday quips to the carefully contrived comedy of literature, newspapers, and television we experience humor in many forms, yet the impetus for our laughter is far from innocuous. Misfortune, stupidity, and moral or cultural defects, however faintly revealed in others and ourselves, seem to make us laugh. Although discomforting, such negative terms as superiority, aggression, hostility, ridicule, or degradation can be applied to instances of humor. According to scholars, Thomas Hobbes's "superiority theory"―that humor arises from mischances, infirmities, and indecencies, where there is no wit at all―applies to most humor. With the exception of good-natured play, Charles R. Gruner claims that humor is rarely as innocent as it first appears.
Gruner's proposed superiority theory of humor is all-encompassing. In The Game of Humor, he expands the scope of Hobbes's theory to include and explore the contest aspect of "good-natured" play. As such, the author believes all instances of humor can be examined as games, in terms of competition and keeping score―winners and losers. Gruner draws on a broad spectrum of thought-provoking examples. Holocaust jokes, sexual humor, the racialist dialogue of such comic characters as Stepin Fetchit and Archie Bunker, simple puns, and many of the author's own encounters with everyday humor. Gruner challenges the reader to offer a single example of humor that cannot be "de-humorized" by its agonistic nature.
The Game of Humor makes intriguing and enjoyable reading for people interested in humor and the aspects of human motivation. This book will also be valuable to professionals in communication and information studies, sociologists, literary critics and linguists, and psychologists concerned with the conflicts and tensions of everyday life.
About the Author: Charles R. Gruner
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of...
Publisher: Routledge
Publication Date: 1999
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh
Seller: Blindpig Books, Salt lake city, UT, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Used - Good. some wear. very readable copy. Seller Inventory # 24-05-07-gw-32177-lcz
Stock Image
The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0765806592I4N00
Stock Image
The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Item in very good condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00080586881
Stock Image
The Game of Humor : A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh
Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 1 Edition. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 10742352-6
Buy Used
US$ 6.42
US$ 10.64 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780765806598
Buy Used
US$ 25.08
US$ 9.29 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Very Good. The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780765806598
Buy Used
US$ 25.08
US$ 6.64 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
The Game of Humor
Seller: Majestic Books, Hounslow, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. pp. 204 2:B&W 6 x 9 in or 229 x 152 mm Perfect Bound on Creme w/Gloss Lam. Seller Inventory # 3425006
Buy New
US$ 69.96
US$ 8.65 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 3 available
Stock Image
The Game of Humor
Seller: Books Puddle, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. pp. 204. Seller Inventory # 264455729
Stock Image
The Game of Humor: A Comprehensive Theory of Why We Laugh
Published by
Taylor & Francis Inc, 1999
ISBN 10: 0765806592
ISBN 13: 9780765806598
New
Paperback / softback
Seller: THE SAINT BOOKSTORE, Southport, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. 353. Seller Inventory # B9780765806598
Buy New
US$ 76.57
US$ 19.00 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Game of Humor
Print on DemandSeller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Delivered from our UK warehouse in 4 to 14 business days. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # L0-9780765806598
Buy New
US$ 79.10
US$ 5.53 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: Over 20 available