by JT Till

Created on: December 28, 2010   Last Updated: December 31, 2010

There are many different situations and life experiences that make things funny and create laughter. Groucho Marks once quipped, “My mother loved children - she would have given anything if I'd been one”.

To some, this may be a belly laugh joke, to others it may just cause a little titter. Humor is a funny thing, pun intended, it is very subjective based on many things. Below are a few different forms of humor that appeal to different people:

* One liners- The joke above is an example of a classic one liner. Another comedian who does one liners is Rodney Dangerfield. This form is very effective if the timing is delivered just right.

* Knock- knock jokes- These are very old style joke forms. They are referred to as meta- jokes which mean that the opening line is repeated each time the joke is told. An example of this would be the following, “A guy walks into a bar” or “There was a Priest, a Rabbi and an Iman”.  

* Physical humor-  Ex. Falling down, cutting ones self, and silly facial expressions are all forms of this kind of humor.

*  Farce- Clever ways in which to exaggerate a flaw- An example if this would be to exaggerate one’s baldness by making it sound ridiculous. Example: “I’m not going bald, I’m gaining more head”.

* Double entendre- “Typical British 'saucy postcard humor': A vicar with an umbrella is having trouble with opening it and so he says to some woman in a tennis skirt "Can you help me get it up?" and she says "Oh my, it is a big one!"


These are just a few of the many humorous styles. There are many more which may appeal to other audiences. So, what makes something funny, the best answer given would be to say our individual brains. Every one is unique, and as such, each and every one of us will have a certain favorite style of what is considered funny to them.

It was once quipped that “Laughter is the best medicine”, indeed it is, so go to a comedy club, watch someone slip and fall off a chair,  or just check out some funny expressions on some ones face. What ever form of humor you enjoy, engage it often, and you will be a much happier person .


Source: Wise Geek,http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-meta-joke.htm

Source: Brainy Quote, http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/groucho_ marx_3.html

Source: Joke Buddha,http://www.jokebuddha.com/Bald

Source: What is Comedy and what Makes Something Funny?,http://www.languagefoundry.co.uk/comedy.html

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