![]() Portraying emotional reactions and intelligence through humour ![]() It plays on incongruity and the intrinsic link between fantasy and humour expressions (Shires 1988) to create exaggerated, multifaceted characters that not only point to animation’s ability to represent the unrepresentable (see Thain 2016, 5), but also lead to the representation of science as a relatable and easily digestible fantasy. Examined through a Science Communication and Humour Studies perspective, we thus argue that Inside Out communicates human psychology through anthropomorphic personification, hyperbolic and situational humour. Clarifying the functions and different forms of humour in science-related animated films opens up new perspectives for our understanding of humour in science narratives and the public imagination, if not the cultural power of science. Humorous pop cultural products exploring scientific themes provide enjoyment and other affective responses and experiences (such as amusement) in relation to the science at stake, and can thus form, reform or confirm science-related opinions (Burns et al. Humour is not only a powerful tool in communication but also a versatile frame for interpreting our relationship with science (see Carroll-Monteil 2022 Boykoff and Osnes 2019 Pinto et al. Against this background, we query: what humour strategies are used to create a fantasy of science-based emotions in Inside Out and to what effect? Not surprisingly, psychologists and neuroscientists were consulted in the development of the film (Ekman/Keltner 2015). Inside Out uses humour to convey its science, specifically psychology, through the exploration of mental processes and emotionally-driven behaviour (Burton et al. Joy and Sadness become lost in this utopia and must find their way back to Headquarters or risk Riley losing parts of her personality. Headquarters is at the epicentre of a fictional utopia in which memories are stored and developed into personality traits. It follows the anthropomorphised characters Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust who – at a place called “Headquarters” – control the emotional reactions of 11-year old Riley (Fig. Disney Pixar’s 2015 computer-animated family film Inside Out (Pete Docter, 2015) is a comedy-adventure that explores emotions ‘standing outside themselves’.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |