Theories of Humor, Annotated Bibliography Example

Krikmann, Arvo. “Contemporary  Linguistic Theory of Humor.” Folklore. 12 July 2009. <http://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol33/kriku.pdf>.

The paper discusses the theories of humor, particularly focusing on linguistic ones.  It discusses the following subtopics: Arthur Koestler’s bisociation theory of humor and its reception; Viktor Raskin’s script-based theory of jokes; The General Theory of Verbal Humor; Linear Theory of Humor, etc. It gives a clear scientific explanation of what the major theories of humor are.

Meyer, John C. “Humor as a Double-Edged Sword: Four Functions of Humor in Communication.” Communication Theory. 10. 3 (2000): 310.

The article discusses major theories of humor. It focuses on the subject of humor functions in communication, describing humor as a paradoxical phenomenon which both unifies and divides communicators. The article’s discussion of the functions of humor gives a better understanding of the role of humor in every-day communication. It looks at the issue as the one which can bring both benefit and detriment, giving a rather objective perception of the topic discussed.

Monro, D. H. “Theories of Humor.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum:. 3rd ed. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1988. 349-355.

The research gives a great theoretical basis on the topic of theories of humor. It discusses the recent researches of the issue, talking about the motives that provoked scientist to make attempts to explain humor from a scientific point of view. The author gives a clear definition of what the three major theories are, expressing his own point of view which says that all the theories are helpful yet imperfect.

Roeckelein, Jon E. The Psychology of Humor: A Reference Guide and Annotated Bibliography.  Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002.

The present book discusses the psychology of humor. When working on the research paper I was mostly interested in the section telling about modern theoretical aspects of humor. It gives detailed information on what Nonpsychological and Psychological Theories of Humor are. Material is presented in chronological order from earliest to more recent theories.

Smuts, Aaron. “Humor.” The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2009. 12 July 2009 . <http://www.iep.utm.edu/h/humor.htm>.

The article discusses humor from a scientific point of view. It gives brief information on modern studies of humor. It tells about what the humor is, what its major theories are and what problems the researchers usually face when trying to give a satisfactory definition to the humor. This source was of a great value to me, since it contains all the necessary information on the topic

“Three Philosophers Walk into a Bar.” The Wilson Quarterly. 31. 3 (2007): 76.

This short article proposes a modern view of whether the theories of humor give us acceptable definition of humor. It also discusses philosophers’ relation to humor, and how the well-known jokes can be ascribed to that or this theory.

Wells, Carolyn. An Outline of Humor: Being a True Chronicle from Prehistoric Ages to the Twentieth Century. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1923.

The book outlines the History of the World’s recorded humor as developed by the human race. It traces the history of humor and of its evolution, giving examples of jokes of various eras and authorships. It also gives a short characteristic of each specific era. The book was curious to look through since it gives a brief and clear outline of how the modern jokes became what they are today.