Laughter

Date: December 2nd

Location: Your couch! See your e-mail for the Zoom link!

Directions: See your e-mail for tips for signing into Zoom!

Laughter. It’s the best medicine, it’s a universal language, it’s just FUN. But why do we laugh? Unlike most brain/body functions we’ve been learning about this semester, laughter doesn’t quite serve the same purpose. We sleep to restore our brains and bodies, we react to stress to help us avoid dangerous situations, and we exercise to keep our bodies functioning well. But laughter is a bit different. It doesn’t serve a biological purpose, necessarily, outside helping us to feel good.

This week we will be looking at laughter and what it does to our bodies. To get us prepared, let’s take a look at things that many people find funny. It is important to remember that humor is subjective, and we don’t always laugh, even if we find something humorous. Take a look at these lists and see what makes you laugh out loud (or ‘LOL’ as we often say in text and e-mail), what makes your chuckle or simply roll your eyes and scoff.

The funniest joke of all time

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He’s not breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911.

“I think my friend is dead!” he yells. “What can I do?”

The operator says, “Calm down. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.”

There’s a silence, then a shot. Back on the phone, the guy says, “OK, now what?”

(That joke has consistently been voted the funniest joke of all time in a number of polls.)

Remember (or still receive) Reader’s Digest? I used to flip eagerly through, looking for the ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine’ and ‘Humor in Uniform’ sections!

Check out their list of the 50 funniest jokes here:

Looking for some shorter jokes to tell at parties? Zoom parties need humor too! Check out these short, easy to remember jokes!

Funniest Movie

Of course, funny movies are subjective, so there is no definitive list, but movies like Blazing Saddles and Airplane! usually top a lot of lists. Check out these lists of the all time funniest movies and see if your favorite is on there:

Funniest Person

Stand up comedy is a genre all its own and many people have seen a show or even a recorded special of a comedian that makes them laugh. Rolling Stone has compiled a list of the 50 funniest stand up comics. Many of them have specials available on various platforms, so try to watch a new one to you, or rewatch one of your favorites.

What’s funny to YOU?

So what’s funny to you? Fill out this form to share what you find funny after you’ve checked out the lists above.

We will discuss your recommendations in class, as we explore all about laughter!