Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters. Ted Cohen

Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters



Download Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters



Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters Ted Cohen ebook pdf
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Language: English
Page: 82
ISBN: 0226112306, 9780226112305

From Kirkus Reviews

Befitting its subject, this study of jokes is neither deep nor systematic, but light, funny, and thought-provoking. As one suspicious of theories, Cohen (Philosophy/Univ. of Chicago) offers ``no comprehensive theory of jokes,'' contenting himself instead with relatively disconnected remarks about how some jokes work and ``what their existence may show about those of us who love them.'' This lack of philosophical ambition is frustrating at times, with some observations trite (e.g., that we joke about death to gain power over it) or insufficiently explored (the promising but stunted section on how one creates a joke). Yet the method fits the material, allowing the author to pepper the book with a diversity of jokes without flattening their humor as a steamroller theory might. Such a book is only as good as its jokes, and most of his are good. His taste runs to long and detailed (the longest runs three pages) but with punch lines worth the wait: see the one about the New York cab driver whose fare wants to be driven to Chicago. But short jokes are supplied too: ``What's big and gray, and wrote gloomy poetry? T.S. Elephant.'' Most are cerebral, sometimes excessively so: ``Wagner is the Puccini of music'' is funny when you think about it, but ``What's round and purple, and commutes to work? An Abelian grape'' may elude all but mathematicians. Among Cohen's better points: all jokes are conditional, presupposing varying degrees of knowledge in the audience; successful jokes achieve intimacy between teller and hearer; and jokes can seem morally objectionable while also being funny. The most detailed treatment is given to Jewish jokes, which Cohen traces to biblical and talmudic roots and characterizes as outsiders' humor rife with ``crazy logic.'' It's not Aristotle's lost book on comedy, but it does combine entertainment and ideas in one gossamer package. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

Jokes is a book of jokes as well as a book about them. Ted Cohen loves a good laugh, but as a philosopher, he is also interested in how jokes work, why they work, and when they don't. Jokes: more humorous than other philosophy books, more philosophical than other humor books.
--This text refers to the

edition.



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