What makes something funny?

The most fundamental humor question can be asked in different ways. What makes humor happen? How does humor work? What do all varieties of humor have in common? What separates humor from non-humor? What does humor have that non-humor doesn’t?

The answers are far from obvious. Senses of humor vary radically. Every example of humor – every single one – is one that some observers find funny and some find not funny. If any one person thinks something is funny, it counts as humor. What could be a unifying explanation for all humor experiences?

A humor theory is any formal attempt to answer these most basic questions. Over the centuries, many theories have been robust enough to be given names. These include Superiority Theory, Relief Theory, and Incongruity Theory. This site is not a survey of existing humor theories, but rather an introduction of a comprehensive new theory called Clash Theory. Clash Theory has its own unique answers to many fundamental humor questions including the questions above.

The many details of Clash Theory are described at length (and with many, many examples) in my book Why Funny Is Funny. What you’ll read here is a highly abbreviated summary.

To start learning about Clash Theory, check out the Introduction.

– Chris Land