Hypnotism


Recently, for the first time in my life, I witnessed a live hypnosis show. In the act, a trained professional convinced first-year Furman students they were driving cars, suntanning on the beach, giving birth, facing an alien evasion, and experiencing all kinds of other crazy tribulations in a false reality. It was by far one of the best works of comedy I've ever seen. Often, I found myself laughing so hard I was crying. 

It is easy to establish how funny the skit was (the audience found it as enjoyably comical as I did), but what exactly made this piece so humorous? Where the actions of my fellow classmates amusing because their behaviors were degrading and I felt superior? Was disbanding norms by combining two ideas, not typically used in relation to one another, why the audience found themselves laughing? Was watching the students speak openly about the sometimes inappropriate subject matter a way for the audience to let loose? It is my belief that all three of these theories, the Superiority Theory, Incongruity Theory, and Relief Theory, allowed the audience to find this particular show filled with laughable situations. 

 For example, in the show, all the male volunteers were hypnotized into thinking they were in labor during childbirth. This situation could be considered humorous because it was very unexpected. It successfully combined two ideas which normally people do not associate with one another, childbirth and the male gender. In other words, the hypnosis show illustrated the Incongruity Theory. Not only does this comical event demonstrate incongruence but also the Superiority Theory. As a woman, I found it very hilarious to watch guys experience what it is like to give birth. I did, in fact, feel superior when their reactions were ones of stress and pain. Feeling superior, in a society which stresses status, allowed me to feel joy and humor. Lastly, the Relief Theory was shown when the hypnotist forced the students to say pick up lines. Their words were not necessarily appropriate, but relief from regular restriant allowed the audience to find light in the event. 

 I was able to find each theory of humor in the hypnosis show. I believe there are many types of humor and these three theories may be a way to explain laughs we often have.

Comments

  1. Shane HerronSeptember 7, 2018 at 9:51 AM

    What do you think was the best explanation of your amusement? Superiority or incongruity?

    ReplyDelete

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