Encyclopedia Titanica

Early Titanic Jokes: A disaster for the theory of disaster jokes?

Humour

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This paper challenges Christie Davies’ theory that disaster humour only emerged in the television era. Analyzing contemporary jokes about the Titanic from Czech sources, Chovanec demonstrates that pre-television disasters, such as the Titanic sinking, inspired humour in various forms, including anecdotes, cartoons, and canned jokes. The study argues that early print media effectively spread disaster news and facilitated humour, showing that mediatization, not visual technology, is key to disaster joke emergence.

by Jan Chovanec
Key Points

  • Challenge to Theory: Contradicts the claim that disaster humour only began in the television era.
  • Titanic Jokes in Print: Early 1912 Czech publications featured Titanic-related jokes, cartoons, and satirical pieces.
  • Role of Mediatization: Print media and telegraph communication created shared cultural knowledge, enabling humour.
  • Symbol of Modernity: The Titanic’s sinking became a metaphor for modernity’s failure, amplifying its role in humour.
  • Cognitive Distance: Disaster humour emerged more readily in cultures distant from the tragedy.

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