What kind of tree is nauseated? A sick-amore.
What is the difference between a desolate amusement and a smart impact? One is a bleak show; the other is a chic blow.
These jokes were created by The Joking Computer, produced as part of a research project at the University of Aberdeen. While they may make lame Christmas cracker gags seem like Oscar Wilde’s sharpest witticisms, the Joking Computer’s purpose is to not to be funnier than humans but to help us understand the question: What can humour tell us about being human?
This was the central question tackled by the 'Feeling Funny, Being Human’ event, held at Brunel University London on 21 November, as part of the nationwide Being Human festival, at which The Joking Computer made an appearance. At this latest event organised by Brunel's Centre for Comedy Research (CCSR), a substantial crowd gathered to hear key individuals in humour studies present their research, and see related performances by the Funny Women Players.
Beginning the evening with a splash of theatricality, Brunel's Circus Skills Society performed juggling, diabolo and hoop tricks as the crowd amassed. Introducing the evening, CCSR Director Dr Sharon Lockyer stated that "humour is a paradoxical and complex subject, and people have been grappling with how it operates for over 2,000 years." Explaining that the festival provides an opportunity to "engage the wider public with academic research on humour's part in everyday life," Dr Lockyer emphasized its important psychological, political and social functions.
Next up, a panel of 5 key humour researchers, performers and practitioners gave short presentations. Professor Merideth Gattis, Cardiff University, drew on her research into the development of humour in children, arguing that, “while they may not be born with a sense of humour, children develop one quickly." Brunel Creative Writing Lecturer Max Kinnings discussed humour as a kind of "coping mechanism for human beings to neutralise the horrors of society", issues of sensitivity and tact surrounding topical jokes, and argued for the importance of satire as a means of resisting the "powerlessness often felt under big government." Lynne Parker, founder of Funny Women and fearless leader of the Funny Women Players, spoke about the role of genetics and evolution in the development of humour, and the function it plays in sexual relationships and gender roles. Changing the focus slightly, Dr Brett Mills, University of East Anglia, asked the question 'do animals have a sense of humour?', drawing upon research with rats and chimpanzees. Dr Mills argued that both animals produced noises similar to human laughter – "partly managed and partly automatic" – arguing that this kind of research helps us "look at what is assumed is natural and unpick it.” Finally, Dr Graeme Ritchie, co-creator of The Joking Computer asked 'can computers create humour?' As well as producing gags only marginally funnier than Marvin the Paranoid Android, Dr Ritchie has used The Joking Computer to provide "language play and sound skills to kids with cerebral palsy, enabling them to engage in 'standard' children's activities."
Following the panel, the Funny Women Players performed improvised comedy sketches based upon suggestions for genres, themes, celebrities, current news items, and unusual scenarios shouted out by the audience. Incorporating themes from the evening’s panel into their performance, the Funny Women led the audience on a spontaneous journey of candid gags and surprises, which was reassuringly much more amusing than The Joking Computer.
Not only did the Feeling Funny, Being Human event engage the audience with the relationships between human nature and comedy, it demonstrated that – with a little thought – academic research can be made accessible and enjoyable to the general public.
Written by Joseph Norman is a Communications Officer and English/Creative Writing Tutor at Brunel University London.
Pictures: The Funny Women Players. Feeling Funny Being Human Event poster image.
