Silliness
Silliness is when a person acts like a fool,[1] or shows a lack of good sense or judgment.[2][3] In television, movies, and the circus, silliness such as exaggerated, funny behavior is used to make audiences laugh. Clowns and jesters act in a silly way to make people feel better.
Psychology
[change | change source]In The Art of Roughhousing, Anthony DeBenedet and Larry Cohen say that "wild play" between a child and a parent can cause "joy, love and a deeper connection". They say parents should be silly and pretend, for example, to fall over.[4]
Michael Christianson from New York's Big Apple Circus teaches jesters, clowns and comedians how to help hospital patients feel better.[5] A doctor named Patch Adams travels to places where there is crisis or suffering to help people feel better.
In the U.S. and Mexico, the practical joke group Improv Everywhere has created an "international celebration of silliness" by asking people to get on the New York and Mexico City subways without trousers on a specific day.[6]
References
[change | change source]
- ↑ "silliness - definition of silliness by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia". Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ↑ "Silliness - Synonyms and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ↑ "Definition of silliness". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ↑ "The benefits of horseplay - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2011-08-17. Archived from the original on 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ↑ "Brief History of the Jester". Alexthejester.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ↑ "No Pants Subway Ride celebrates silliness - video | World news | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 2013-07-06.