They prefer a subtle approach while hiding a sarcastic tone. They joke about sexual taboos and class systems through puns and innuendos. Brits can appreciate humor that hides seemingly strong emotion that would almost sound offensive to other cultures. While Brits are usually seen as uptight and conservative, everything is fair play.
Jokes can be made about almost anything, although the lack of subtlety when tackling controversial subjects is always frowned upon.
American humor can be defined by the several kinds of humor Americans usually subscribe to. One of the most common types is slapstick, or physical comedy. Stand-up comedy is also a popular form of comedy where a stand-up comic uses an arsenal of jokes, usually in front of a live audience. Insult comedy is also popular among Americans. Impersonations are also a good source of laughs for many Americans.
However, insult comedy, including in impersonations, can sometimes be hurtful, and may even lead to damage claims in extreme cases. So much so that two years after its final episode, a day barely passes without its inclusion in the schedules.
Could it be any more ubiquitous? I hated Friends when it first aired. The very title was anathema to me. It immediately evoked the embarrassing, droopy-eyed longings of the sickeningly hug-happy new American youth. The thought of all that togetherness, untempered by ironic undermining, made my skin crawl. Yet it drew me in. Due to a fine ensemble cast and some genuinely funny scriptwriting "You're over me? When were you under me?
In fact, it arguably even opened us up a little. I certainly went from sneery to teary at Ross and Rachel's passionate, reconciliatory smooch. This moment might actually hold the key to a middle ground between British and American humour, specifically when it comes to heartfelt, emotional expression. The British aren't against it; we just believe it comes at a price.
The success of the emotional climax in that particular scene is due entirely to the comedy preceding it. Ross's perm, Monica's fat suit, Rachel's nose all go toward setting the tone for the payoff, which the audience wholeheartedly accept. The sentiment is a reward, rather than a device to engender a sympathy laugh or, worse, a big, soppy, "Awww".
This device works in the best situation comedy on both sides of the Atlantic. The difference is perhaps simply that the average American is prepared to accept it sooner. Still, who could deny Del Boy a tearful pat of Grandad's chair, after his Keaton-worthy tumble through the wine bar?
Or scoff at the field of poppies that fills the screen at the close of Blackadder Goes Forth? So perhaps we're not so dissimilar, after all. One of the best exponents of worthy sentiment is a show that could easily be argued to be the greatest sitcom the US has ever produced. A razor-sharp, joyously dumb and potentially endless treatise on the American family and its suburban environment, The Simpsons is a remarkable show in that, in what is essentially a children's medium, it has established itself as a constant and often highly critical reflection of America itself.
Hiding its subversiveness in bright colours and absurd situations, it has made satirical comment on virtually every aspect of America, rehearsing ideas that are at times positively "un-American".
Yet at the same time the show exudes an enormous warmth and sentimentality, and holds at its heart great positivity about the linchpin of the American dream: the family. George Bush Snr once declared that Americans should be more like the Waltons and less like the Simpsons. Both families are praying for the end of the Depression. Scratch the surface of US comedic output and you will find many more such gems. Understanding humor from other countries is a difficult task.
But, if we understand what other people find funny, we will be one step closer to communicating better and perhaps enjoying a world of comedy. Skip to main content. Contact Join Log in. Yiva, via Flickr. Two types of comedy Even though American and British people speak the same language, they find humor in different ways. Don't "view cherry blossoms"—talk about your traditions naturally. Cool, eh? Show culture with question tags. Teaching English in Vietnam gave me a fresh view on education and globalisation.
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