Humour

Terry Eagleton

This is a compelling guide to the fundamental place of humour and comedy within Western culture. Written by an acknowledged master of comedy, this study reflects on the nature of humour and the functions it serves. Why do we laugh? What are we to make of the sheer variety of laughter, from braying and cackling to sniggering and chortling? Is humour subversive, or can it defuse dissent? Can we define wit? Packed with illuminating ideas and a good many excellent jokes, the book critically examines various well-known theories of humour, including the idea that it springs from incongruity and the view that it reflects a mildly sadistic form of superiority to others.

Author(s): Eagleton, Terry
Binding: Hardback
Date of Publication: 02/04/2019
Pagination: 224 pages
Series: N/A
Imprint: Yale University Press
Published By: Yale University Press
Book Classification: Philosophy: aesthetics
Dimensions: 210x140x21
Weight: 400
ISBN13\EAN\SKU: 9780300243147