Gender and Humor

Here is a themed thread I've often thought about creating, but with Oni's remark above, I'd like to expand it to two items:1. I think I agree. (Why don't more (any?) women do Curly Howard impressions? Seriously?)My friends and I OFTEN talk about women and humor (lack of). I never dated a VERY funny girl, but I think I would like to.Has there ever been any scientiifc research about women's apparent lack of humor?My friends usually and ultimately semi-agree these women are funny: Carol Burnett, Phylis Diller, Gilda Radner, (maybe Lucille Ball?)Forum participants, please name up to THREE of your favorite woman comedians.2. I've often been told that the type of humor one likes GREATLY reveals the soul to one's personality. I think it would be interesting to line up our tastes in humor to our online personas. Please name up to FIVE of your favorite FUNNY movies. This is very difficult for me, I will be leaving off many I love, but maybe, in no particular order: Woody Allen's "Love and Death", Monty Pythons "Life of Brian" and "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World", Mel Brookes original "the Producers", Neal Simon's "Murder by Death"Admn, obviously place this in coffeehouse forum.drnstrEdited by dronester, : clarity

Hmm, you seem to be saying that women are "conditionally funny". (This term seems like an oxymoron because humor "should" be funny from the gut, not the mind.)Anyways, I am curious about non-American opinions too. Any female comedians you would like to list? C'mon, Brit comedy must have bowl-fuls!

Does this mean you generally agree that women are less funny than men? A lot less? I tend to do that with Simpson quotes, especially if they are monkey-themed.

Hey hey Oni,Damn you forum participants, I can not view videos at work because of the firewall and internet filters. In the future could you all at least write a sentence to describe why you think the video is illustrative to your point? Thanks. I'll try to review your video later at home. I like Sarah Silverman. I obviously don't know her in person, but she seems like she MIGHT be the type who is funny but in a caustic, sarcastic way. I have known those types, but wouldn't want to date them for long.The other two you listed aren't exactly world-class comedians. But this is supportive of you thinking that women are less funny. I agree, I agree. Looking over my thread, it appears everyone can easily name their favorite comedy movies, but is having a difficult time with the lady comedien list. Hmm.Lastly, as a comedien, I expected from you at least one classic comedy film in your list. From before the 70s? Or from before the 50s? Limiting myself to only five films was difficult for me, perhaps it was doubly-difficult for you.

But your lack of ANY examples are evidence of absence of evidence. (Umm, perhaps, Straggler or Razd can assist.)

Hey Subbie, Ohhh, an ingrate, ehh? I'd tear out your tonsils!If you ask any man who the three greatest American men in history are, they would reply, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Moe*. The stooges were a great surreal farcical comedy team. Love 'em. I'd agree she should be on a list. But top three? Hmmm, maybe? She WAS considered the next Lucy, so she might not be a bad choice. Yeah, Maybe not in my top five, but a very funny movie. Too many funny moments, but I find the scene where Babs says "hi daddy" to her father as a judge, and then his desk implodes. Early 1970s movie.So far no one has offered any pre 1970s comedy movie. Hmm.* Credit some comedian I can't remember. Maybe Tim Tommerson?

Hi caffeine,I anticipated your type of reply. That's why I specifically asked you to name YOUR favorite female comedians and comedy movies. Without any lists, it might appear you simply don't have any sense of humor. (If your OK with that, then so am I, no problems) Also, I think we can, sort of, guage the type or depth of humor by the type of movies you list. And from that, maybe a simplistic logical or intelligence profile of each participant. For e.g. if you said all Jerry Lewis movies, you are either a dumbass American or a brilliant French person (just kidding). Seriously, this seems like an obvious science experiment that should have been done years ago. And I bet it has.

Welcome to the forum aiki,Wow. I thought asking for THREE woman comedians would be difficult. Sadly, even though Americans do get a sampling of Brit television, I don't recognize any of your names you supplied, sorry. Are you a female, AND a comedian/actress? You seem very connected to the comedy world. I hope another Brit will respond to your email. As do I. If I catch a very, very obscure reference, I laugh exponentially harder.

Hey Subbie, I like older films, but sadly have never watched any of these above from start to finish.My father is a big factor in my liking older films, might I add: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) w/Cary Grant. "Cole. Bill Cole. Friend of the family. Just came in out of the rain." Animal Crackers (1930) Marx Bros. I often describe our processes here at work as "Marxist". I agree, he was great.

I remember Bob and Ray from Saturday Night Live in the 70s singing Rod Stewert's "Do you think I'm Sexy". Funnnnny!(Still no stooges appreciation in the thread eh? Why, I'll gouge your eyes out!)I think the Stooges surreal voilent humor, that makes me laugh, is somehow indicative of my mental profile. Not sure. Must get myself to a team of Viennese psychiatrists for experimental evaluation Does anyone else strongly subscribe to the type of humor one laughs at being indicative/relative to ones intelligence/personality? I had hoped the thread would eventually turn to why women and men find humor funny. Or not. Does it benefit evolution? . . .Oni's comment about fat comedians was interesting: Jumped Up Chimpanzee also offered an interesting comment: Anyone care to expand?Edited by dronester, : No reason given.

Actually, perhaps not so much disagreement here. For one thing, I like your humor on the threads. Also, I would put "Airplane" in my top ten too. Furthermore, I'd agree with you about:
1) Blazing Saddles (one HAS to include at least one Mel Brooks movie, maybe "Young Frankenstein" is slightly better?)
2) The Gods must be Crazy (Great movie, but VERY funny? Maybe I need to watch it again)
3) National Lampoon's Vacation (another movie my bros and I often use dialog from: "Is that reeeal tomato ketchup Eddie?"
5) Naked Gun (Got it on DVD, I love Leslie Neilson)I wish this thread (and this forum) had more woman participants. I find the gender envolution of humor to be fascinating. Where's Kuresu? He was usually good at finding obscure science research experiments.

I am currently embroiled as executor in my uncle's estate. It is one huge clusterf***.After some long days at my attorneyS offices or court, if you asked me if I find comfort in watching the Stooges extremely violent slapstick routines, I would reply, . . . "why soitenly"!

Curiously, we have very similar lists. Again, I am putting a LOT of stock in that humor (or lack of) is highly indicative of our intelligence/personality. From just this trait alone, I would GUESS that the odds of us being friends outside of the forum would be good. I see humor as a big/important bonding agent.But why doesn't it seem to apply equally to male-female relationships? Shouldn't it? Where is the evolution connection? I just don't get it.PS: Just watched Murder by Death last night. Watched it a million times, but I still manage to laugh.

Hmm. You might be on to something.I am thinking back on my anthropology classes and visiting primitive societies in S America and the Pacific. E.g. the Yanomami in S America. Like many "primitive" cultures, there is often a special men's hut that keeps the woman separate. There, men will jockey for heirarchy, joke, and will one-upmanship like todays "sophisticated" male. But, GENERALLY, not in front of woman. The women, I am afraid to report, are GENERALLY less often in social groups: tending families/babies, crops, cooking, and weaving. (Of course there are many exceptions to this rule, but I am writing GENERALLY).But, alas, it would be difficult to accept that humor is in our DNA, and not a conditioned trait.

Interesting.That leads me to . . . perhaps there is still severe repression/sexism/discrimination in the comedy/entertainment business? Surely, 50 years ago, women "comediennes" would not had equal billing to men comics. As a result, even today, the dearth of women comics is relatively low.Are women still discriminated in the comedy business? Thus, all the funny ones still haven't been heard? Thus, there are still LESS women role models for young girls to be funny. If true, it at least seems to be improving.Oni, care to comment/2-cents?