Sense of Humor, Sense of Seriousness
One must have a sense of humor and a sense of seriousness to distinguish what is supposed to be taken literally or not. An even more keen sense is needed when humor is used to make a serious point. Psychologists have studied how humor is intended to be taken as having seriousness, as when court jesters used humor to convey serious information. Conversely, when humor is not intended to be taken seriously, bad taste in humor may cross a line after which it is taken seriously, though not intended.
Read more about this topic: Theories Of Humor
Famous quotes containing the words sense of, sense and/or seriousness:
“Some facts should be suppressed, or, at least, a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them.”
—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)
“I sometimes have the sense that I live my life as a writer with my nose pressed against the wide, shiny plate glass window of the “mainstream” culture. The world seems full of straight, large-circulation, slick periodicals which wouldn’t think of reviewing my book and bookstores which will never order it.”
—Jan Clausen (b. 1943)
“People do not become convinced of your reasons, of your sincerity or of the seriousness of your pain until you are dead.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)