Humor Production

Crafting wit seems a mysterious process that depends on the magic of a muse, but it's essential to all of comedy. Although most people know hilarity when they see it, few can create it consistently. The process might be more art than science. Investigations of humor production focus on the ability to generate funny material. Researchers often ask participants to fashion captions for drawings, much like popular magazine contests. Other studies ask people to create monologues or design bumper stickers, droll slogans, or amusing remarks. Few people do their best work under these circumstances, but the approach supplies a general guide to each person's ability.

Coders then rate these responses for their funniness, originality, or charm. Despite a wide variety of tastes, people tend to agree ...