Spring Break
Conference brings big laughs
Kilcawley Center hosts International Society of Humor Studies conference
Eric Grosso and Carrie Swansiger
Issue date: 6/16/05 Section: pageone
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With open mic comedy night, scholarly projects, wings and research papers, the ISHS brings a unique brand of humor research to Youngstown State University with its annual conference.
The event has been held in France, Italy, England, Japan and Hawaii. ISHS members traveled from around the world to YSU for the gathering, which began Monday in Kilcawley Center and will run through Friday.
On Monday, the conference began with presentations in Kilcawley Center on humor research methods and techniques. The presentations provided a base in the research aspect of humor, rather than introducing new theories or discussing problems in humor. The night ended with a scheduled dinner at Inner Circle Pizza.
Salvatore Attardo, a linguistics professor at YSU, brought the conference to Youngstown. Attardo said that usually members nominate their home areas for the event, resulting in a wide variety of locations. Despite the hard work, Attardo didn't give it a second thought.
"It was a lot of work, but well worth it," Attardo said. "The members are real impressed with the Youngstown area and Kilcawley Center."
Seminars in facial expressions of humor, developing and teaching a college course in humor, humor and religion and humor roles in student identity are some of the more than 100 presentations scheduled to be given throughout the week.
All members are also encouraged to share their research papers during the conference. Approximately 150 members submitted papers this year, according to event organizers.
Margherita Dore traveled from Lancaster, England to give a presentation on the metaphors, humor and characterization on the television show "Friends." Dore, originally from Sardinia, Italy, said the conference offers something not available to those doing humor research alone.
"You don't know if you're on the right track or not until you get together with those who research the same topics," said Dore.
Despite losing her luggage along the way, Dore said she is glad she made the trip.
"All the seminars I've been to have been really stimulating," Dore said. "I'm really impressed with all the speakers here."
In addition to the presentations, members watched the film "The Aristocrats," by Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette, before its national theatrical release in July. The film, which received excellent reviews after debuting at the Sundance Film Festival, features more than 100 famous comedians telling their versions of the same, very dirty joke. Provenza attended the conference and held a roundtable discussion on humor and the film Wednesday morning.
The film is a study in differences of humor delivery and context, according to event organizers.
Also new this year, a bookstore at the conference featured more than 70 books currently in print on humor.
Participants were also scheduled to take part in an open mic night in Peaberry's on Wednesday, complete with a joke-telling contest and a presentation by YSU professor Mustansir Mir. Guest performers included Robert "The Humble Farmer" Skoglund and Azhar "The Joking Jihad" Usman.
Attardo, editor of the peer-reviewed journal "Humor" and a member of the ISHS since 1988, noted how recent trends in uses of humor to prevent employee burnout and to shorten recovery times in hospital patients show just how important humor research is.
"Humor is a cognitive function of people," Attardo said. "Just like anything else, it's important to know how people react to and use humor."
Lorene Birden, professor of English at YSU and organizer of the conference, also stressed the importance of humor research.
"Humor is universal, and to know how it works is essential in so many different areas," Birden said.
"For example, to help a child with autism, we need to know how to make [humor] effective," Birden said. "Do we use slapstick or subdued humor? What could we use that would most help the child?"
Birden noted that type, context and timing of humor in determining its effectiveness are main reasons for humor research.
To wrap up the conference on Friday, there will be a cartoon exhibit on display at the McDonough Museum of Art.
The society officially formed in 1988 when it started holding annual conferences in humor research. Loosely organized conferences on humor can be traced back to 1976, according to event organizers.
Future conferences are scheduled for Atlanta and Denmark with possibility of Taiwan. For more information on humor studies visit http://www.ishs2005.com.
Call Eric Grosso and Carrie Swansiger at (330) 941-1913.