Research into ’corona humour’

UvA communication scientist Mark Boukes collects and analyses corona humour from around the globe, together with Giselinde Kuipers from KU Leuven. What differences exist between humorous expressions in various countries and cultures, and what trends are visible in terms of nature and form? The number of jokes and memes being circulated in this time of crisis is huge. Humour offers not only a means of coping with stress and the flood of news we face every day, but also a way to communicate with one another. 'Crisis conditions like the Covid-19 pandemic tend to expose phenomena in society that we often fail to notice when life is going on as usual', Boukes explains. 'Now that there's a single topic on everyone's mind all around the globe, the use of humour in people's day-to-day communication is becoming much more visible - and therefore easier to study.' - Differences between countries. The number of corona jokes swirling around the internet each day is huge, yet that volume also provides researchers with an opportunity for cataloguing this form of humour. Styles of humour can vary from one culture to another, as well as the public figures who may serve as the focal point of the jokes.