Homosexuality, Representation of

The representation of homosexuality in humor reflects cultural understandings of identities, social categories, and ideologies. As a topic, homosexuality is contrasted against heteronormative ideology, which produces the element of incongruity required in humor. The role of homosexuals (e.g., performers, targets, or audience members) influences the social function performed by humor. By examining theories and social functions, a better understanding of the representation of homosexuality in humor can be reached. This entry offers definitions of homosexuality, discusses why homosexuality is a common theme in humor by reviewing the major theories, and examines representations of homosexuality alongside their possible social functions.