Assault, Anesthesia, and Whoopie Cushions

Reviews the book, Cracking Up: American Humor in a Time of Conflict by Paul Lewis (see record 2006-12745-000). This book dissects humor's recent history in the United States more effectively (and much more entertainingly) than any psychological tome on the subject the reviewer has read. Through Lewis' precise focus on specific manifestations of humor since 1980, and his examination of everyone from Freddy Krueger to Rush Limbaugh, he manages to explore theses that are both meaningful and delightful, and does so in an engaging writing style that matches his subject matter perfectly. Central to Lewis's thinking is the observation that much of today's humor does not lead to personal transcendence and interpersonal connectedness; rather, it forges and reinforces divides and denials in the United States, to the point that biting humor is a frequently used weapon in what passes for political discourse, and we are left with less empathy for one another. Consisting of only four primary chapters, each fully and thoughtfully realized, Cracking Up earns praise through Lewis's careful construction and exploration of his hypotheses. The first chapter, “One, Two, Freddy's Coming for You,” surveys the rise of the “killing joke” in the 1980s and 1990s, perhaps most clearly represented by the popularity of Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. The chapter “Red Noses at the Ready!” manages to both appreciate and skewer the movement. Focusing on the purveyors of humor-asmedicine seminars and conferences, Lewis interviews several of the key players and sympathetically displays their earnestness and good intent. In the chapter, “Shut Up! No, You Shut Up!”, the author canvasses the insidious rise of baldly mean humor, particularly within the political universe. What exploration of modern humor would be complete without a capstone chapter entitled “Ridicule to Rule” and subtitled “The Strange Case of George W. Bush”? Pushing more deeply into the mutual ridicule that passes for modern political discourse, Lewis elucidates not only the biting commentary of humorists from Thomas Nast to Jay Leno, but also the power of humor to persuade, referencing recent works by George Lakoff and Thomas Frank. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)