This week, The Infinite Mind looks at humor. What's involved in humor? What makes things funny? Where does funny live in our brains? Things are funny when they don't quite fit--when they're divorced from their normal context, or when they violate a pattern. There's often an element of discomfort in humor--maybe because we sense that violation. Humor can relieve anxiety, dissolve conflict, and be used as a tool for teaching. Dr. Fred Goodwin talks about humor with some of America's top comedians--including Margaret Cho, Peter Bergman and Phil Proctor of the Firesign Theater, Robert Klein, and Anne Beatts, an original writer for Saturday Night Live. They reveal how they generate their material, talk about secrets of comic timing, and discuss the relationship between humor and social commentary. Dr. Goodwin also interviews scientists who've researched humor in different cultures and found a spot in the brain that when stimulated generates laughter and feelings of amusement. Click here to visit the LCM web store to purchase a copy of this program as an instant download MP3 audio file or transcript.
 $18.00 |
 (Paperback) $15.00 |
