2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Uncovering the suppressed potential in spontaneous self-induced laughter through Deleuze, affect and posthuman philosophy
| Project/Area Number |
20K00003
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
Weeks Mark 名古屋大学, 教養教育院, 特任准教授 (70514222)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | laughter / solitude / becoming / affect / Deleuze |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Progress on the project was somewhat retarded due to the second year-long postponement of the annual conference of the International Society for Humor Studies. A paper I had prepared on the status of solitary humor-induced laughter viewed from a Continental philosophical perspective had been tentatively accepted for delivery at the conference.
In this period I have intensified my literary/philosophical research on solitude apart from its connection to humor and laughter. Key works in this regard have been the influential book by the philosopher Philip Koch, "Solitude: A Philosophical Encounter", and Anthony Storr's "Solitude". I have also examined journal articles on the subject, including "Solitude Experiences: Varieties, Settings and Individual Differences" and "Solitude: An Exploration of Benefits of Being Alone." These articles use empirical research to help establish a more positive view of solitude, a commonly pathologized behavior. These ooints may be applied to solitary laughter in my own study.
My review of the book "Philosophy, Humour, and the Human Condition: Taking Ridicule Seriously" was published in December of 2021 in the European Journal of Humour Research. In this review article I critiqued the author's conception of humor as a response to tragedy and focused on the issue of self-induced laughter as it is discussed in the book and as it relates to my own research.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Progress has been considerably affected by the inability to deliver a paper on my work to the annual conference of the International Society for Humor Studies due to postponement the second time. It is important that I deliver the paper to receive constructive feedback from informed colleagues in the field to advance my project.
However, I have been able to establish contact with a French colleague in the medical science field and have we have begun pursuing collaborative research on solitary laughter through a cross-disciplinary approach, beginning with a comprehensive narrative literature review on the subject of solitary laughter across research fields. This may set back the completion date of my originally-planned article, but will provide a solid, published foundation for that.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
This year I will continue the recently-begun collaborative work, a thorough narrative review of the history of references to solitary laughter in English across research fields, with some reference to mentions in non-academic contexts. The search of databases is currently in progress and this will continue through July 2022. We will then analyse the data and write an article in August-September. We hope to then submit the work for publication to a specialist humor research journal or a medical care journal.
At the same time, I aim to present my previously prepared paper at last to the International Society for Humor Studies conference in Italy in late June 2022.
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| Causes of Carryover |
It is planned to use the amount to attend the annual conference of the International Society for Humor Studies in Bertinoro, Italy from June 29 to July 2, 2022. There I will give a paper on my current research in order to receive useful feedback.
I will also use some funds to purchase access to current research materials from the field.
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