Jerry Palmer is Professor of Communications at London Guildhall University and the author of numerous studies of popular culture, fiction, film and comedy.
INTRODUCTION Part I Occasions for humour 1 JOKING RELATIONSHIPS 2 CLOWNS
AND RELIGION 3 MEDIEVAL COMEDY: FOOLS AND FOLLY Part II The functions of
humour 4 FUNCTION AND FUNCTIONALISM 5 GENDER AND HUMOUR 6 FREUD Part III
The structure of humour 7 INCONGRUITY 8 INCONGRUITY AND DISCURSIVE CUES 9
HUMOUR AND NARRATIVE STRUCTURE 10 COMEDY, FARCE AND NEO-CLASSICISM 11
MANNERS, WIT AND THE REFORM OF LANGUAGE Part IV The limits of humour 12
COMPREHENSION AND HUMOUR 13 PERFORMANCE AND OFFENCE
