Lead Blog Response #6

When it comes to being a fan of The Office, I can wholeheartedly agree with the statement that The Office is if not THE best, one of THE best television comedies to grace this world. Sorry Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, and Friends fans... A balance between all of the different types of humor is achieved through the larger than life characterization of each member of the Dunder Mifflin Team and those encountered along the way. Michael takes care of the dirty humor, racy jokes, and the occasional dad joke. The superiority theory has the ability to apply to a plethora of characters ranging from Erin to Andy, Dwight, Kevin, and Michael of course. Being a long-term viewer of the show I am very intrigued by the statement that this show's success was highly dependent on the political, social, and economic environment of the time. Humor is not something that I would initially associate with changing over time, but after some reflection, it seems more than plausible. With the inclined political climate of today's time jokes that were freely tossed around could upset audiences, but since it was directed and produced before these events that still makes it enjoyable to viewers today. I guess timing really is everything. Thankfully The Office was produced early enough that it can still crack the smiles of a wide span of ages, and be a general crowd pleaser today.

Lead Blog Response #3

One of the most important aspects of humor that we have learned about is the necessity of being globally accepted and relatable. As humans we all share those seemingly stupid habits, instances, and mistakes that will leave us babbling with laughter whether it be missing that bottom step of the staircase, waving at someone that definitely wasn't referring to you, or as in the clip shared, feeling like the human embodiment of death on a treadmill after about 30 seconds. I fully and completely see where you are coming from when you relate this humor to the superiority theory, but if these experiences are shared by all of us who is the superior one? I believe that these humbling and usually embarrassing instances are what put all human beings in the same playing field, I've been there, you've been there, and believe it or not Beyonce has too. 

Literal Laughter Medicine

As an intended neuroscience major and psychology enthusiast I am going to take a different approach on this blog post. Recently there has been a growing interest in the clinical uses of humor and laughter. In application to psychotherapy, humor is used to alleviate anxiety, pressure, increase feelings of positivity and motivation, and can aid in creating bonds between doctors and their patients. The man, Freud himself, attributed comedy to being a form of catharsis for the human conscious, allowing topics that we tend to dodge around to be addressed head-on by biting sarcasm and light fluffy humor.

Here are some exercises and activities that I discovered:

The "I Don't Know Why I am Laughing" Trick
Any type of laughter can be good laughter, even if it is forced. Individuals may stand in front of a mirror or choose to do this easy exercise in a group. As the title suggests, participants plaster a cheesy grin on their faces, not stimulated by a given event or joke, and just laugh. Circulation in the body will temporarily increase, releasing stress that is weighing the body down both consciously and unconsciously.

Open Ended Cartoons
Much like inkblot tests, therapists reveal a set of cartoons to their patients. These cartoons, specifically chosen for each individual patient is meant to somehow relate to a struggle that the patient is currently experiencing, without being blunt. At the end of the session, the images are discussed and if perceived correctly the patient is able to use this form of therapy to put their problems in perspective, and eventually draw them to the conclusion to why they cannot make light out of their own predicaments.