Observational Humor Vs Slapstick Humor

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Did you know that supervisors in the workplace who utilize humor are more likely to be perceived as effective leaders? Humor is one aspect of the English language that makes conversing with other human beings both enjoyable and stimulating. Humor brings people together with universal themes that are relatable, but infrequently, humor can also drive people apart if the subject matter is offensive. There are numerous types of humor that exist, with the majority of people enjoying at least one form of humor, if not multiple forms. Observational humor and slapstick humor are two distinctive forms of humor that contrast yet compare to one another. Each form of humor has unique characteristics, and observational humor as well as slapstick humor are no strangers to that. Observational humor is based on the aspects that people experience in their day-to-day life. What leads this form of humor…show more content…
The beginning of observational humor is debated frequently, but it is believed to have been around for longer than seventy-five years. However, this form of humor has only been popular in the United States since the 1950s. Shelley Berman is believed to have been one of the main pioneers who made this type of humor popular in the mid-1950s. David Brenner made observational humor popular as well beginning in the 1970s. He made jokes such as, “You know you’re getting old when…you start to dress in more than six colors.” On the other hand, slapstick humor has been a part of comedy since the ancient times. In Greece and Rome, bald, heavily padded clowns oftentimes exchanged insults and beatings; which audiences enjoyed. In addition, Shakespeare displayed evidence of slapstick humor in his play “The Comedy of Errors”, through using chase scenes and beatings. Although slapstick humor appears to have been around longer than observational humor, both forms have been around for a reasonable

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