Filled with examples of jokes and riddles that reveal humour to be a meaningful - even significant - form of expression, this title provides alternate ways of thinking about humorous expressions by examining their contexts - not just their contents.
The Jokes of Sigmund Freud unravels the intimate connections between Sigmund Freud and his Jewish identity. Author Elliott Oring observes that Freud frequently identified with the characters in the jokes he told, and that there was a strong relationship between these jokes and his own psychological and social state. This analysis offers novel insights into the enigmatic character of Freud and a fresh perspective on the nature of the science that he founded.
Elliott Oring offers a fresh perspective on jokes and related forms of humor. Criticizing and modifying traditional concepts and methods of analysis, he delineates an approach that can explain the peculiarities of a wide variety of humorous expression. Written in an accessible and engaging style, this book will appeal to scholar and layman alike--to anyone who has ever wondered how jokes work and what they mean.