Or, saith John Tierney in the science section of the New York Times, we laugh because we want to signal to others that we are friendly and not hostile. So in this case…because we don’t want the other people in the audience to think we’re taking the sex too seriously?
Great point! Mikey and I didn’t think of that. Do you mean that perhaps we wouldn’t want to seem to “into” the sex because it could make us sexually threatening? Or that we laugh because we want to share in the sexual discomfort as a means of fostering a connection?
Aww, thanks!
And yeah, I tend to agree with what you say in the comment above – I think audiences laugh, especially in these contexts, so as not to appear too threateningly “into it.” (I say “these contexts” because college theater audiences tend to be acquaintances of the performers, so there’s a strange territory of how deep to go into a level of sexual openness and comfort and still remain “polite” company.)
Kind of wishing I’d gone, now. I just didn’t feel like going out last night. (But at least I got some work done. Still, algebraic topology’s a pretty sad way to spend a Saturday night.)
and I didn’t realize Mikey had a blog.
Although part of the reason I didn’t go was because I thought, well, maybe I’d be too comfortable with it. I am a bit uncomfortable about how comfortable I am about sex, which is kind of mind-bending.
What I didn’t really go into in my post, because it was beyond the scope of what I wanted to talk about, was that I think that the laughter also partially came from the discomfort caused by the cognitive dissonance between “I’m a naive college kid who was taught that sex is naughty” and “I’m a liberated modern college student and I shouldn’t think simulated sex is a big deal”.
Maybe it did make them feel a little uncomfortable, especially if they were getting a little turned on by the play.
People don’t always like to be aroused in public, so maybe the giggles were an attempt to convince themselves that they weren’t getting all hot and bothered.
The Good Reverend, Mar 18, 17:15:
Or, saith John Tierney in the science section of the New York Times, we laugh because we want to signal to others that we are friendly and not hostile. So in this case…because we don’t want the other people in the audience to think we’re taking the sex too seriously?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/13/science/13tier.html?ex=1331438400&en=d38e4cf7a53719f3
Jess, Mar 18, 17:18:
Great point! Mikey and I didn’t think of that. Do you mean that perhaps we wouldn’t want to seem to “into” the sex because it could make us sexually threatening? Or that we laugh because we want to share in the sexual discomfort as a means of fostering a connection?
Arielle, Mar 18, 18:51:
Aww, thanks!
And yeah, I tend to agree with what you say in the comment above – I think audiences laugh, especially in these contexts, so as not to appear too threateningly “into it.” (I say “these contexts” because college theater audiences tend to be acquaintances of the performers, so there’s a strange territory of how deep to go into a level of sexual openness and comfort and still remain “polite” company.)
Isabel, Mar 18, 20:12:
Kind of wishing I’d gone, now. I just didn’t feel like going out last night. (But at least I got some work done. Still, algebraic topology’s a pretty sad way to spend a Saturday night.)
and I didn’t realize Mikey had a blog.
Although part of the reason I didn’t go was because I thought, well, maybe I’d be too comfortable with it. I am a bit uncomfortable about how comfortable I am about sex, which is kind of mind-bending.
Mikey Mongol, Mar 19, 00:52:
What I didn’t really go into in my post, because it was beyond the scope of what I wanted to talk about, was that I think that the laughter also partially came from the discomfort caused by the cognitive dissonance between “I’m a naive college kid who was taught that sex is naughty” and “I’m a liberated modern college student and I shouldn’t think simulated sex is a big deal”.
Isil, Mar 19, 20:02:
Laughing when nervous pretty much does the opposite of what it tried to cover up.
I bet they did tons of hand rubbing, candy wrapper twitching and side glancing to catch up their peps reactions.
Shay, Mar 22, 14:01:
Maybe it did make them feel a little uncomfortable, especially if they were getting a little turned on by the play.
People don’t always like to be aroused in public, so maybe the giggles were an attempt to convince themselves that they weren’t getting all hot and bothered.