2015 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Constructing a Theory of Laughter Founded on Deleuzian and Non-Western Approaches to Subjective Temporality and Concepts of the Self
| Project/Area Number |
15K01992
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
Weeks Mark 名古屋大学, 国際言語文化研究科, 准教授 (70514222)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | laughter / theory / attitudes / solitude / Deleuze |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In order to gather preliminary information on cultural differences in attitudes to laughter, a pilot study was conducted, primarily using Japanese and foreign students studying at Nagoya University.
I attended the annual conference of the International Society for Humor Studies in Oakland California from June 29 to July 3, 2015. I presented a paper at this conference titled “Steps Supporting Greater Cultural Diversity in Theoretical Discourses on Laughter”. This paper gave preliminary results from the pilot study conducted in the preceding months. Interest in my work was expressed by editors of the European Journal of Humour Research and it was suggested I submit a paper based on the presentation for peer review and possible publication by the journal. A paper was written on a specific survey item, the question of solitary laughter. A paper titled “The Enigma of Solitary Laughter” was submitted to the European Journal of Humour Research in the middle of March 2016 and I am awaiting feedback.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Progress was made in gathering preliminary survey data from 104 subjects, mostly Japanese but overall representing 21 different countries. Better than expected progress was made in a specific area, studying attitudes towards solitary laughter across cultures, through the development of an article and acceptance of a proposal for a conference paper on the subject in the coming year. However, the concentration on this area has caused slower progress to be made in extending reading on the philosopher Deleuze and applying this to theorization of the laughter phenomenon. Little progress has also been made on the scholarly treatment of the subject of laughter in other cultures, particularly non-Western countries, due to a disappointing amount of information being gathered so far from foreign scholars in the field.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In order to accumulate a substantial amount of data from subjects of various nationalities, further surveying will be undertaken. A bank of questions have been used in the preliminary testing, and from now an attempt will be made to narrow and fix the range of questions in order to continue surveying with a uniform set of items. At the same time, further research of literature will be done. It is hoped that contacts made at the Society for Humor Studies conference in June 2016 will assist in expanding the international range of the surveying and literature review. I will attempt to gather collaborators from other countries. Also, feedback from the paper to be delivered at that conference will be used in order to determine the specific direction of further investigations on the subject.
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| Causes of Carryover |
In order to disseminate results from the preliminary research, to receive essential feedback and to make contacts to facilitate the development of the project, a paper will be delivered to the International Society for Humor Studies conference held in Dublin, Ireland. In order to expand knowledge of approaches to laughter in other cultures, access to texts emanating from those cultures will also be necessary.
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| Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget |
Approximately 35万円 will be spent on travel to Dublin, Ireland for the International Society for Humor Studies conference to be held from June 27 to July 1 2016, including flight ticket, accommodation and living allowance.
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