Humor, when used as a defense mechanism, is the channeling of unacceptable impulses or thoughts into a light-hearted story or joke. Humor reduces the
intensity of a situation, and places a cushion of laughter between the person and the impulses.
Humor is also a defense mechanism (Chapter 2) that can help people handle stress or conflict by draining the seriousness from situations and by
providing an alternative and usually safe way of discharging tension, often with some element of hostility or aggression. "We all recognize that
humor makes life so much easier..."
Freud suggested [humor] 'can be recognized as the highest of these defensive processes'" (Valliant), 1993, pg.
72).Human Behavior In The Social Environment
The above two excerpts demonstrate that laughter can be a way to release tension and stress.
Do we suppose that popular culture may be be unconsciously structured so as to encourage these types of stress release habits?
Well, sure. The popular format for television at one time was that of the sitcom, in which the most popular were termed 'water cooler' subjects for
office work. The successful comedian usually employs a repetoire of human actions and statements by which to make light of their existence (which
acts as a type of centering of human issues by illustrating the commanality of human experience.
Recently, due to the onset of instantaneous global communication, we have seen humor in many aspects, from the youtube culture to the political
And that is where I think we may have a conspiracy (though for all intents and purposes, regarding the universal utilization of humor as a social
Bush has done a terrible job in the opinions of many people worldwide. But there wasn't any real action on behalf of anyone to prevent his actions.
From the deceit that was used to justify a war in Iraq (that Bush Sr. started for arguably legitiment reasons) to the passing of legislation allowing
for retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies participation in what was at the time
illegal spying on American citizens.
The most common action against the Bush administration was that of 'belittling' and 'joking' of not only the man, but the policies. From the Dan
Quayle 'potatoe' spelling incident that made its' way onto the sitcom Murphy Brown to the endless propagation of Bushisms, we see the popular
dilineation of the average American population with their leaders.
How does this serve the American public? We are left with focusing on the inane aspects of our political leadership despite the fact that they are
making many decisions that many disagree with.
Put another way, we as a population usually disregard the actions of our political leaders as moronic, level it with a few jokes that ease the stress
of the recognition of their percieved shortcomings and then we continue on our way.
So, given the huge amount of research regarding the human animal that has taken place and the fact that the overwhelming majority of speeches given by
our political leaders contain generalities that reinforce idealogical expressions, do we suppose that humor and the indirect denigration of our
political process is in fact at times intentional?
Some of us may have signed petitions or been apart of some passive political protest, only to be 'satiated' into finding the next topic in the
constantly changing news reels that highlights a different topic everyminute. Even the pace of ATS and the desire to 'read all that is posted' has
kind of cultivated its' own means of dissuasion towards any real action.
So here are three questions for the members of ATS:
1) Is humor utilized too often in regards to the popular opinion and ingestion of political and international events?
2) Does humor at times reinforce the Partisanship that the two party system has promoted?
3) Does humor and its' seemingly indirect way to pacify an individual denote a completely different outlook on our society when comapring an
'average American' and a 'political leader'?
It doesn't seem coincedence that the political satire cartoons were/are located at the end of the 'Headlines' portion of newspapers.
4) Does the above suggest an intention to relieve the psychological stress/tension incurred from reading the 'serious' headlines of the days
My appreciation for those who decide to take a look at this topic for what it is...a possibility and not a static accusation. It is by examining our
own reactions to life and observing our daily actions/reactions that we may truly gain an insight to our reality and perhaps there is where we can
find hope for actual change.
Edit: To fix ex tags
[edit on 14-11-2008 by MemoryShock]