126-464 German Humour

37.5 points of second/third year subjects. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year, see Prerequisites.

This subject considers the questions: What do Germans consider funny? How does the concept of humour change over time on a European and on a German scale? Are there things like humorous universals that are being laughed at in all cultures? Students who complete this subject should have an acquaintance with the most important European traditions of humour as they are echoed in the German traditions; have a familiarity with linguistic and literary techniques of humorous communication; have the capacity to analyse forms of humour that are specific to a certain epoch according to their respective cultural backgrounds; have an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of cultural studies.