Laughter is a philosophical theme. Why do we laugh when someone falls? Bergson, in his work on laughter, analyzes this involuntary laughter. I myself laughed when I fell. And sometimes I laughed, with shame, when I saw someone fall. It would take too long to discuss laughter here, Bergson's laughter. But he says this: "A man, running down the street, stumbles and falls: the passersby laugh. People wouldn't laugh at him, I think, if they could assume that the fancy suddenly came to him to sit down on the ground. People laugh because he sat down involuntarily. So it's not his sudden change of attitude that makes us laugh, it's what's involuntary in the change, it's the clumsiness."
So here are some mannequins falling, and that's just as well with Bergson philosophy of the laugh. I laughed and yet...
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.