Greek Laughter: A Study of Cultural Psychology from Homer to Early Christianity

摘要: The first book to offer an integrated reading of ancient Greek attitudes laughter. Taking material from various genres and contexts, the analyses both theory practice laughter as a revealing expression values mentalities. society developed distinctive institutions for celebration capacity which could bridge gap between humans gods; but it also feared its power expose individuals groups shame even violence. Caught ideas pleasure pain, friendship enmity, became theme recurrent interest in contexts. Employing sophisticated model cultural history, Stephen Halliwell traces elaborations series important texts: ranging far beyond modern accounts 'humour', he shows how perceptions helped shape conceptions body, mind meaning life.