Why Do We Laugh?

The Logic of the Illogical

The Hook

In comedy, the high stakes of cinema collide with the mundane. Why does an action hero mentioning an oven make us laugh? It's the structural short-circuit of our expectations.

Imagine this: A high-stakes action hero is dangling from a helicopter, the fate of the world in his hands. He looks at the camera and whispers, 'I think I left the oven on.' You laugh. But why? Welcome to the science of the ‘Ha-Ha.’

• Comedy often stems from a 'short-circuit' in logic.
• High stakes provide the necessary context for humor.
• The collision of serious and silly is a fundamental building block.