One of laughter’s many powers, according to Julian Hanich, is its capability to be a therapeutic form of relief. Much like crying, it can help to release tension. When reading this, I thought of the following clip which is a YouTube sketch from As/Is (formerly known as Buzzfeed Video) depicting various scenarios that would typically elicit tears, but instead provoke laughter within people. None of the reasons for any of the characters’ laughter is humorous. Instead, the humour of the sketch derives from the unconventionality and inappropriateness of the social situations.
Those who are shown laughing in the sketch have their eyebrows raised and their mouth and eyes widened, all facial configurations which comply with the laughter characteristics as described by Elias. Although such expressions may seem harmless and are mere incontrollable facial reflexes, Anca Parvulescu states in their reading how open-mouthed laughter and smiles used to be considered a social taboo and people were frowned upon when seen laughing in public. What can be relieving to one can also be an inconvenience to another. As this sketch depicts, laughing in public can still be disruptive. Such eruptive, obnoxious laughter interrupting peaceful, quiet environments alongside the uncanniness of the laughers’ exaggerated facial expressions would likely elicit discomfort and annoyance among observers if such scenarios took place in the real world. Similarly to Hanich, Norbert Elias considers the act of laughter to be a liberating form of expression. ‘What sleep is to the body,’ he claims, ‘the exhilaration of laughter is to the mind.’ One character expresses how he has never laughed before, as he allows himself to laugh loudly and freely. This depicts what Hanich theorises to be the driving force that helps to extend one’s laughter, as they believe that assuming an attitude of willing submission propels the uncontrollability of laughter. Whilst the act of laughter can be healing, it can also be quite intimate and personal as one must be comfortable in a state of vulnerability in order to fully embrace laughing. Certain contextual settings can determine how enjoyable laughter can be, whether it be by laughers or their peers, like in a cinema or among close friends and family so as not to risk upsetting others.
https://youtu.be/JuwLFLkfs6o?si=WuuFwDbaAhjeU6WM