Jokes across cultures

[K.E. Hoffman]

Hi folks,
A colleague asked me about linguistic anthropological work on joking in 
cross-cultural perspective.  Freud writes we have the urge to tell a joke 
as soon as we hear it, and we keep a straight face until the recipient gets 
it.  Any proof of this in other cases than Vienna or the US, or refutation 
of this, or just some other takes?

Someone on this list probably has a full syllabus on jokes (not just joking 
as a key but jokes themselves of whatever form).

Apologies for the query so close to AAA.

Thanks,
Katherine Hoffman






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Katherine E. Hoffman, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology
Northwestern University
1810 Hinman Avenue
Evanston, IL  60208
847.491.4565
khoffman at northwestern.edu
http://www.cas.northwestern.edu/anthropology/faculty/hoffman.html