Kierkegaard's Theory of Contradiction

        Out of the various humor theories included in these readings, I was especially struck by Soren Kierkegaard's exploration of contradiction. This form of humor involving irony and unexpectedness is exhibited in several aspects of my everyday life, whether it be present in the media on my phone, in the literature that I read, or right here on Loyola's campus. Oftentimes, this form of humor is the most successful in making me laugh because of its ability to reverse the ordinary or the mundane. Kierkegaard notes that, in our everyday lives, "wherever there is contradiction, the comical is present" (83). In other words, humor can be found when people speak or behave in ways that contradict what is expected of them. Humor can be found in the events that oppose the standards or customs. Thomas Hobbes would agree with Kierkegaard, as he states that "whatsoever it be that moves laughter, is must be new and unexpected" (20). The insights of these philosophers are important, as they remind us that the funniest moments in life are not always the showiest or the most extravagant. Sometimes, the most humorous moments are the simple occurrences that stand out against the normal day-to-day. Kierkegaard allows readers to better understand these ideas by providing the example of a man who "goes dressed in a strange manner for everyday use, but then once in a while appears elegantly dressed" (87). Humor can be found in the rare instance of this man dressing elegantly, Kierkegaard argues, because we are moved to laugh at the unexpected in contrast to the ordinary. If the man were to continue dressing elegantly, the humor in the scenario would gradually decrease. Therefore, he proves true his theory that unexpectedness is necessary component for something to be deemed humorous.

        I resonated with these ideas, as I thought back to times in which I genuinely laughed at the parts of my day that were out of the ordinary. For example, when my roommates and I ordered burgers for dinner tonight, we laughed when one of the burgers came with a bun and lettuce, but no meat on it. If this mistake happened often, it would not be humorous. Because this was an odd occurrence, we were able to laugh at its unexpectedness. 

        Further, I was able to connect these ideas with the discussions we have had regarding Samantha Irby and her candidness. Throughout her essays, Irby uses irony to share the pieces of her life that might come across as shocking or unexpected to her reader in comparison to the traditional lives depicted by most authors. For example, when she shares the gritty details of her daily routine in "Into the Gross," readers are moved to laugh, as the stories she shares are not customary in daily routine blogs. For instance, I have never read a daily routine in which someone describes their "anti-dandruff shampoo," "orthopedic flip-flops," or "industrial strength callous cream" in such great detail (5-10). Her writing is humorous because it contradicts the ordinary, further proving the truth in Kierkegaard's statements.