浅析《破产姐妹》中的美式幽默

ChapterOneIntroductionInrecentyears,filmandtelevisionculturehasmaderapidprogressintheworld,andtherearemoreandmorerelevantresearchesinthisaspect.Amongmanycountries,theUnitedStateshasbeeninaleadingpositioninthisrespect,creatingavarietyofoutstandingfilmandtelevisiondramas,amongwhichthesitcomisthemostprominent.Thistypeofdramareliesonthecheerfulatmosphereofthedramaandtheintegrationofhumorousbodymovementsandwordstoproduceauniqueformofcomedy,namelyAmericanhumor.Thisstyleisalsocommoninourdailylife,buttheprobleminthisaspectremainstobeexplored.Asaresult,thisexplorationofAmericanhumoriscloselyrelatedtolocaldevelopmentsandculture.PeoplewholoveEnglishlovetolistentoAmericanTVdramas,whichisalsoagoodwayofEnglish.AmericansitcomsaremorepopularwithEnglishfansbecauseoftheirbrightrhythm,coherence,humorandhumor.ThepopularTVseriesTwoBrokeGirlsattractedalargenumberoffansaroundtheworldassoonasitwaslaunched.ThisisthefirstTVseriestobebroadcastinthefallof2001.Inrecentyears,withtherapiddevelopmentofnetworktechnologyandtheincreasinglyfrequentexchangesbetweenChineseandAmericancultures,moreandmoreChineseviewerswatchAmericantelevisionprograms,especiallyAmericansitcoms,throughtheInternet.ThispaperanalyzestheAmericanhumorinthecurrentpopularAmericansitcomTwoBrokeGirls,andbelievesthatthehumorintheplayismainlyreflectedinthreeaspects:theauthenticpopularAmericanspokenlanguage,therichAmericancultureandtheuseofexpression.ThiscannotonlyhelpChineseaudiencesbetterunderstandAmericanhumor,butalsoenableChineseaudiencestofurtherunderstandtheculturaldifferencesbetweenChinaandtheUnitedStates.CBSbroadcastTwoBrokeGirlsforthefirsttimeonSeptember19,2011.CenteredinBrooklyn,NewYorkCity,thefilmtellsabouttwogirlsfromthecity,whohavedifferentsocialstatusandsocialstatus.Maxwasborninapoorfamilyandhasaboldandunrestrainedtemperament;Carolinewasborninarichfamilyandspoiled.ShecanonlyworkintherestaurantwhereMaxworks.Aftermakingfriendswitheachother,theyplantogivefullplaytotheirexpertiseandstartabusinesstogetherwhentheyhaveenoughmoney.ThispaperfirststudieswhereAmericanhumorcomesfromanditschangingprocessandinfluence,andputsforwarditsownopinions.Then,ittakesthesitcomTwoBrokeGirlsasatypicalcase,andanalyzesandcomparesitbycombiningthetheoreticalknowledgelearnedandtheliteratureconsulted,soastobehelpfultotheresearchonthisissue.ThisthesisattemptstoexplorethewayofexpressionandoriginofAmericancomedyfromthestorybackgroundofTwoBrokeGirls,soastohelpChinesereadersbetterunderstandtheculture,customs,customsandvaluesembodiedintheplay,thuspromotingthepopularityofEnglishandcontributingtotheirChinesedream.TwoBrokeGirlsisarecentlypopularAmericansitcomwithastrongflavoroflifeandlanguageclosetoreality.ThepaperselectsseveralpairsofdialoguesfromtheplaytoexploretheapplicationofAmericanhumorintheplay,soastohelpreadersunderstandanduseAmericanhumorwell.ChapterTwoIntroduction

of

American

Humor

and

Two

Broke

GirlsTheUnitedStatesisacountryofimmigrants,whoseancestorsspreadallovertheworld.TheUnitedStatesisacountryofmanyracesandraces.SinceColumbusexcavatedtheNewWorldin1492,hundredsofimmigrantshaveflockedtoestablishtheirowncountry.Theprocessofmigrationisnotonlygeographicalmigration,butalsobringingthecultureandcustomsoftheircountryintoanewplace.Differentcommonalitiesmakepeoplepaylessattentiontounification.Onthecontrary,theyaremoreopen.Americanhumorwasbornhere.2.1Introduction

to

American

HumorThe"umor"inhumorisderivedfromtheLatinwordmeaning"bodilyfluids".Inthemid-14thcentury,theOldFrenchwordmeant"sapofplantsandanimals".TheancientGreeksbelievedthattherewerefourhumorsinthehumanbody,namelyblood,mucus,yellowbileandblackbile,andthattheproportionofeachhumordeterminedthedifferencesintemperamentandemotions.Therearethreemainexplanationsforthetermhumor(Merriam-Webster,2008):(1)afunnyoramusingquality;jokes,funnystories,etc.,ofaparticularkind.(2)theabilitytobefunnyortobeamusedbythingsthatarefunny.Thewayasyoucansee,humorhasmultiplemeanings.Itcanbeseenthathumorhasmultiplemeanings,referringtofunnyqualities,jokes,stories,senseofhumor,andalsoItcanalsodescribeaperson'smood.MarkTwain,thefamousAmericanwriterandhumorist,oncesaid:"Thehumanracehasonereallyeffectiveweapon,andthatislaughter."[1]16Americanhumorcanberoughlydividedintofivetypes:coldhumor,advancedverbalhumor,intelligenthumor,lovelyironyandblackhumor.AmericanhumorreferstotheformofhumorinnativeAmericanculture.Americanhumorfirstappearedinliteraryworks,andMarkTwainandHemingwaywereregardedasthefoundersofAmericanhumor.ItisoftencomparedwithotherformsofHumor,suchasBritishHumorandCanadianHumor.AmericanhumorismainlyderivedfromAmericancultureandisbasedonAmericanhistoryandcurrentculturaldevelopments.TherearemanykindsofAmericanhumor,especiallyinsitcomsandcomedymovies.Americanhumorismainlycharacterizedbycriticism,humorandirony.AndoneofthemostcommonfeaturesofAmericanhumorisindirectexpression,thatis,touseindirectforminsteadofdirectformtoexpresswhatisintendedtobefunny.Thentheaudiencewillfeelthesenseofhumorintheprocessofconvertingthisindirectexpressionintotheoriginalmeaningofdirectexpressionintheirminds.TwoBrokeGirlsisaclassicexample.2.2Introductionto

Two

Broke

GirlsTwoBrokeGirlsisasitcomcreatedbyMichaelPatrickKingandWhitneyCumming,producedbyWarnerBros.TelevisionandstarringKateDarlingsandBethBeale.TheseriespremieredonSeptember19,2011ontheCBSTelevisionNetwork(CBS).Theseriestellsthestoryoftwocitygirlsfromcompletelydifferentbackgroundswhoworktogethertomakealiving.ThepremiereofTwoBrokeGirlsreached19.2millionviewers,airingafterTwoandaHalfMenwithoutCharlieSheen'sreturn,andsetarecordforthehighest-ratedfallpremiereepisodesince2001,earninga7.0ratingamongviewersaged18-49.Subsequentviewershiphasfallenback,butremainedataround11millionviewersanda4.0rating.Theserieswascalledoneofthetwobestnewsitcomsonthepublicnetworkin2011,asmallbudget,smallstory(only20minutesperepisode),smallformat(youcanonlyseefourorfivetablesintherestaurant)Americandrama,fullofheavylaughsandgrittytextureofNewYork"LowerEastSide"life,likeaspicyMexicandish.It'slikeaspicyMexicandishtogiveviewerswhoaretiredofpolitics,criminalinvestigationandhistoryachangeofpace.AlthoughthisinspirationalstorysetinNewYorkisfullofallsortsoftrollingandno-holds-barredpuns,itstillretainsitspositiveessence.TheWashingtonPostgaveTwoBrokeGirlsa"C"rating;TheBostonGlobegavetheshowa"B+"ratingandpraisedthecastandthehumor.LosAngelesTimes:"Despiteadiversionaryopeningsalvoofpost-feministraunchandunfortunateracialstereotyping,TwoBrokeGirlsisasolid,old-fashionedsitcomabouttwomismatchedgirlstakingonthebigcityandmakingtheirdreamscometrue."ChapterThreeEmbodimentofAmericanHumorinTwoBrokeGirlsTheAmericanhumorofTwoBrokeGirlsismainlyembodiedinthreeaspects:theconflictofcharacters,theskillsoflinesandthewideuseofirony,sothischapterwillanalyzethehumorinTwoBrokeGirlsthroughthreeparts:thecontrastbetweenthecharactersofMaxandCaroline,SophieandOleg,theuseofpunsandexaggerationsinthelines,thesatiretechniqueondiscriminationandthegapbetweentherichandthepoor,sothatreaderscanhaveabetterunderstandingofthehumorintheshow.3.1CharacterSettingsof

Two

Broke

Girls3.1.1Max

and

Caroline—WorkingGirlwithFormerRichSecondGenerationOurleadingladyMaxworksinasmallrestaurantinBrooklyn,NewYork.Shewasborninasingle-parentfamily,andhermother'sdrugandalcoholaddictionbasicallyignoredher,soshedevelopedatough,self-deprecating"manly"character.Incontrasttoher,Carolinegrewupwitharichprincess-likelife,becauseherfatherwasarrestedforeconomiccrimes,resultingintheclosureofproperty,andfinallyhadtocometothissmallrestaurantinthecivilianarea,asMax'scolleagues.Max,whohasaheartofgold,sawherpityandtookherin,sothestorymainlyrevolvesaroundthetwogirls'variousorfunnyorbitterexperiences.Let'sstartwithMax.Maxisalow-classwaitresswhoisrealistic,boldandsarcastic,andcanbakeagoodcupcake.Max'shandylittleyellowjokesandstormyoutputofvenomousattacksaresimplylovedandhated,butsheisbothpassionateandrighteous,andshewillstandupforherselfandherfriendsinanytimetheyarebullied.Maxgrewupinapoorfamily,oreven,nofamilytospeakof,becausetherewasnothingshecouldtakeaboutherparents.Thisissuchagirl,shedidwhat?Sheworkedinasmallrestaurant,weoftensaythatthedishes,butsuchaseeminglyuninspiringworkbutalsodidnotlethercomplain,shespentherfreetimeintheeveningtomakecupcakes,onetosupplementtheirown,thesecondasahobbytoemptythemselves.Max'sinnergoodness,reflectedinmanydetails,theirownmodestsubletroomnotonlytoputdowntheirownandroommates,butalsoreceivedachestnutlikeatallhorse,Maxalsosilentlywhenthepooperscoopertoslipthehorse,completelyliketheirpetstreated,whichistheownerofthehorsearenotdoingthings.Manytimesweareaskingwhatisthesenseofresponsibility,Ithinkthisisit,Itookinyouandyourhorse,Iwilltakecareofyou.Maxisalwaysenthusiasticaboutothersaskingforhelp,whichcomesfromherinnerheatandearlyexperienceoflife'shardshipsandpositiveperceptions,infact,weallhavemanyreasonstocomplain,hate,stumble,butifthat,theshortlifewillbewastedtomoreshort.PeoplelikeMaxaresurroundedbygroupsofpeople,thatis,peopleliketobewithher,notbecauseofherappearanceorfinancialpower.Shehasthekindofstrengththatencouragesandsustainsherfriendsinthefaceofadversity,whichisveryrare.AndourotherheroineCaroline'ssettingisoutofplacewithMaxandthewholeofBrooklyn.WhoisCaroline?Sheisthedaughteroftheoncerichestman.Shelivesalifeofattention,enjoysthegloryandwealth,contactwiththepeoplearehighclass.Hereducationwashighlandshewasthelivingprincessofarichfamily.Caroline'slifewassupposedtobehighandpromising.Withhighheels,shewasablondequeen.Butsinceherfatherwasimprisoned,shefellfromaprincesstoabeggar.Thefamilyfortunewasgone,andfriendswereshunnedandtreatedwithindifference.Attheendoftheday,CarolinewenttoworkinBean'srestaurant.Atfirst,shewascompletelyuncomfortablewearingdirtyyellowworkclothes.SincethenCaroline'sidentityhasbeenreversed360degrees-fromprincesstowaitress.Later,inthegradualgettingalong,Carolinecompletelyadaptedtothelifeofawaitressandmingledwitheveryone.Butthatkindofboneupbringingandthoughtandothersarestillalittledifferent.ItcanbesaidthatCaroline'sspecialtemperamentisalsoabitmismatchedwithBrooklyn.ItisbecauseofthisthatpeoplearoundherarealwaysmakingfunofCaroline,thesettingoftheplayisalsoCarolinealwaysembarrassed,causingeveryonetolaugh,andthepeoplearoundherwilloccasionallyreallyspitonCaroline,especiallySophie,languageandexpressionsarerevealedtoCaroline'sdislike.everywhereshowsthatCaroline'scoreisstilldifferentfromBrooklynandthepeoplethere.Carolinealsohasmanypreciousvirtues,suchasstrengthandoptimism.Noteveryonecanaffordtogofromabilliondollarfamilytoapennilessone.ButCarolineheldonandwasoptimisticabouteverything.Althoughsheoccasionallymissesthegoodandluxuriouslifeatthattime,shenevercomplainedaboutthepresentlife.TheplothasMaxtakinghertosnatchupclothes,onesecondshestilldisdainsit,thenextshe'sbeamingbecauseshesnaggedaspecialdeal.Ofcoursesheisalsoverybusiness-mindedandknowshowtoplanforthefuture.MaxandCaroline'spersonalitiescannotbesaidtobeinsync,andtheircharacterizationsaresoverydifferent.Anditisthisconflictbetweenthebackgrounds,personalitiesandothercharacteristicsofthetwoheroinesthatproducesthecontrastinthecharacterizationoftheplay,anditisthiscontrastthatreflectstheAmericanhumorinit.3.1.2Sophie

and

Oleg—AnAbleWomanwithAHornyCookOleg,restaurantchef,Ukrainian.Usuallyhobbyistoflirtwithgirls,with"lewdman"todescribehimisnotexcessive,becauseeveryappearance,everyinteractionwithfemalecharacters,alwaysavoidavarietyofsexualtopicsandteasing,healsooftenopentheyellowcavitytoteaseMaxandCaroline,andhaveafetishforself-takensmallvideosofprivateparts.ThenourheroineSophieappeared,Olegthe"prodigalson"fellinlovewithheratfirstsight,andinstantlybecameverydevoted.SowhatkindofcharacterisSophie?Sophie,MaxandCaroline'sneighbor,isastrongPolishwomanwhorunsamaidcleaningcompany.ShecametoAmericatostartherownbusinesswiththedreamofbuildingavillaonalakeinPoland.Sophie'scharacterisbig-hearted,openandcasual,nerve-racking,althoughgivingpeopletheimpressionthatsomelovetobesilly,butinfactveryintelligentandshrewd,butalsoverykindandrighteousinside.Andtheaudience'simpressionofheristhatsheissillyandcute,sillyandheadless,especiallyeasytomakepeoplelaugh.Sophieisveryenthusiasticandhelpful,oftenpatronizingthesisters'cakestoreandoftengivingthemsolutionstotheirproblems.Sheisawarm-heartedsister.Sophieisthebiggestsupporterofthesisters'business,oftencheeringthemonwhentheyaredisappointed.Occasionally,shealsotellshertroublestothesisters,andsheandthesisterskindofneedeachother.Sophie'svoiceisbasicallyveryloudwhensheappears,andeverytimesheappears,shesaystheopeningwordsofHi,girls,thevoicefirstattractstheaudience,justlikeWangXifengappears,andshehearshervoicebeforesheseesherperson.Sophie'slookisalsoexaggeratedeverytime,withSophie'splumpbodyshape,givingpeopleadeepimpression.Shealsooftensaysthingsherselfthatshethinksarefunnybutembarrassespeopleormakesfunofher.Verycasualaboutherownlife,happy-oriented,hangingsexonthelips,especiallyputonthecharacter.Sheisalsoacomedianandafunnypersoninthedrama,withobviouslaughs.Theconflictbetweentheirtwocharactersliesinthefeelingsthatarisebetweenthem.Inthefirstseason,Olegnolongeropenshismouthtoothers,buysacarasadriverandbecomesdevotedonlytoSophie.SophiehasacareeranddoesnotseeOleg,butOlegdoesnothatehimforloveandretaliationaspeoplethink.Therearenaturallyavarietyofpersonalitydifferencesbetweenthetwosides,buttheybothproduceunexpectedchangesbecauseofeachother.Atthesametime,SophieandOlegalsohavemanysimilarities,thetwocanalsobesaidtobeamatch,anaturalpair.Theirpersonalitiesareveryopenandlively,bothliketoopentheyellowaccent.Althoughtheyseemtobetallandevendifficulttogetalongwith,butinfacttheyareverykindandrighteousandwillingtohelpothers.Theyarefunnyandtheybothliketotellstoriesabouttheirhometownsandstories-eveniftheyaretoldthroughdirtyjokesorhorrorstories.Ofcourse,theycancollidebrilliantlywhentheyaretogetherandcanperformhumorsovividlybecauseofallthese.3.2HumorousLinesinTwoBrokeGirlsTheuseoftheincisivetechniqueinTwoBrokeGirlsmakesthedialogueofthecharactersrich,vivid,humorousandinteresting,whicheffectivelyaddstotheartisticexpressionandinfectiouspoweroftheshow.3.2.1HumorfromWell-chosenPunsIntheEnglishlanguage,therearemanywordsthathavethesamesoundwhiletheyhavedifferentmeanings.Undercertaincircumstances,peoplecaneasilymakemistakesandDancaneasilyproducehumorouseffects.Forexampleagymhasasignatureinfrontofit,"Wehaveclassesthatmakegrownmenyoungandyoungmengroan.Thissignatureisverydosilent,because,grow"and"groan"havethesamesound,whiletheyhavedifferentmeanings.Inaddition,"Grow"tellsaboutthebenefitsofexercise,and"DayGroan"tellsaboutthedifficultiesofexercise.Doubleentendrereferstotherhetoricalwayofintentionallymakingwordshavedoublemeaningsinacertainlanguageenvironmentbyusingtheconditionsofmultiplemeaningsandhomophones.Thedoublemeaningcanmakethelanguageexpressionsubtle,humorous,andcandeepenthesemanticmeaning,givingpeopleadeepimpression.Forexample,"course"meansboth"course"and"adish",andwhenThat'smorecoursesthanIfinishedinhighschool.That'smorecoursesthanIfinishedinhighschool",acleverturnofphrasethatmakestheaudiencelaugh.Anotherexampleisthat"meet"and"meet"arehomophonic,andwhenMaxmistakenlythinksthatCarolineisgoingtorefuseaHollywoodmeet-and-greet,shesays,"Youcan'tpassupameet-and-greet.Youareanemic."ForCarolineMee,attendinga"meet-and-greet"meansmoreopportunitiesandevenmorewealth.Therefore,theimportanceof"meeting"forCarolineisthesameas"meat"forCaroline,whois"anemic".Thewordinghereiswittyandhumorous,andthedoubleentendreisveryinteresting.3.2.2HumorfromBoldExaggerationExaggerationistherhetoricalwayofdeliberatelyexaggeratingorreducingtheimage,characteristics,roleandextentofsomethinginordertoachieveacertainexpressiveeffect.Referringtoexaggeratedlanguage,in1987BrownandLevinsonsystematicallydiscussedpolitenesstheoryintheirbook,theyarguedthatfacewastheself-imagethateveryadultwantedtostriveforinpublicplaces.Facethreateningactsincludecommands,suggestions,andoffers.Theyclassifyface-savingaspositivefaceandnegativeface.Positivefacereferstothefactthatpeoplewhoparticipateincommunicativeactivitieswanttobeaffirmedorapprovedbyothersandhavetheirwishesfulfilled;negativefacereferstothefactthatpeople'sindependentchoiceandfreedomofactionarenotviolatedorinterferedwithbyothers.Ineverydaycommunication,whenthespeakerisinanawkwardsituation,heorsheoftenadoptsadiversionaryapproach,overstatesthecase,makesexcuses,exaggerates,etc.tosaveface,andwhentheseapproachesareusedinsitcoms,thehumorouseffectisborn.Forexampleone:Han,therestaurateur,isasmall,honestKoreancharacterwhoisalwaysteased.Maxonceteasedhimandsay:"Shecould'vecoughedyouintoacatcher'smitt!"Anotherexample:afterHanfinishedtalkingtohismotheronthephoneinKorean,MaxandCarolineaskedhimifhewasflirtingwithhisgirlfriend,andHansaid,"Iwasn'tflirting,Iwasapologizing."Maxsaid,"Whatdoyouhavetoapologizefor?"Examplethree:Maxdidn'tcomebackallnight,CarolinewasworriedaboutMaxandtalkedtoEarlabouthowtofindher,EarlreassuredCarolinebysaying:"Don'tyouworry,Maxcantakecareofherself.Ioncesawherpushatruckoutofherwaywithhermind."Inthefirsttwocases,MaxusedveryexaggeratedandboldlanguagetoteaseHan,whichwassomewhatoffensive,buttheaudiencefelthumorfromit.Andinthethirdexample,Earldescribedher,withgreatexaggeration,asanoxofstrengthwhocouldmoveahugetruckoutofherwaywithherbarehands,sotherewasnothingforCarolinetoworryabout.3.3SatireTechniquesofTwo

Broke

GirlsSatire,usuallyintheformofironicremark,isrootedinhumorandaimstomockorsatirizesomething,itisaliterarytechniqueusedtoexposetheshortcomingsandridiculousnessofanobject,oftenusingexaggerationorirony,etc.,toproduceahumorouseffect.Itisusedtodepicthostileandbackwardthingswithridiculeandmockingstrokes,sometimesexposedwithexaggerationtoachieveademeaningeffect.Ofcourse,itisalsopossibletouseclumsyimitation,makingaplay,adjoining,juxtaposition,juxtaposition,contrast,similarity,analogy,etc.arealsooftenusedinsatiricaltechniques.TwoBrokeGirlsisthekindofplaythatallowspeopletofollowtheplotandlaughwhileseeingallthedisgustingthingsinAmericafromtheplay,itusestechniquesofsatiretofurtherreflectAmericanhumor.3.3.1BitingSatire

on

Phenomenon

of

DiscriminationHan,aKorean-AmericanandtheowneroftheTwoBrokeGirlsworkingrestaurant,isoftenridiculedbythewaiters,cashiersandcooksbecauseofhisshortheightandold-fashioneddress.Healwayswantstotellajokebutissaidtohavenolaughingpoint,alwayswantstobefashionablebutoftenmakesafoolofhimself,calculateseverybitofprofitbutlosesinfrontofMax'sneighboringteeth,superafraidofhismotherinKorea,talkingaboutwomen-relatedtopicswillblush.ItissuchanAsianpersonwhoisridiculedandevendiscriminatedagainstinthisdrama,whichpreciselyreflectsthephenomenonofdiscriminationinAmericansociety.Butitisthissatiricaluseofeitherwittyorexplicitlanguagethatemphasizesthehumor.Example:Caroline:"Whowasthat,Han?Doyouhaveahot,new,Koreangirlfriend?"Max:"Yeah,someonewhoreallylikesyou,andis1.5dollarsforthefirstminute,and2dollarsforeachadditionalminute?"Han:"Iwastalkingtomymother!"Hanwastalkingon6thephoneinKoreanandafterhehungup,CarolineaskedHanwhohewastalkingtoonthephoneandifitwashisnewsexyKoreangirlfriend,andwithoutwaitingforHantoanswer,Maxsaid,"Yeah,awomanwholovesyouonthephoneandcharges$1.50forthefirstminuteand$2.00perminuteafterthat.Althoughthiskindofnakedridiculewillmakethepersonconcernedfeelalittleoffended,butactuallybelongstoakindofsatire,whichcanwellreflecttheblackhumor.3.3.2VividSatire

on

Gap

Between

theRich

andthe

PoorTheshowalsocaricaturestherealityofthewealthgapintheUnitedStates,andthatironycomesthroughineveryaspectoftheshow.MaxwillalsomoonlightasanannyforafamousNewYorker'sfamilywhileworkingasawaiterattherestaurant.AndintheMaxtodothenannyepisode,wecanclearlyseethegapbetweentherichandthepoorandthedifferencesitbrings.IncludingintheprocessofMaxandCarolinetogether,wecanalsoseetheexistenceofthisphenomenon.Thedifferencesbetweentherichandthepoorintheplotoftenmakeuslaugh,butinfactwecanseethegapbetweentheindividualsandtheindividualsinthegapbetweenBrooklynandNewYork,thatis,theeconomicgapbetweenthewholeUnitedStates.TwoBrokeGirls,ontheotherhand,highlightsAmericanhumorbysatirizingthisphenomenonateveryturn.Intheoriginalepisode,CarolinefirstarrivedinBrooklyn,MaxtookalmostpennilessCarolinetothe"poor"clothingstoreMaxoftenshop,Caroline'sreactionexactlyinlinewiththeclassic"aristocraticreaction",whichmadetheaudiencelaugh,butthistrulyreflectsthegapbetweentherichandpoorbetweenthem.ChapterFourFactorsfortheFormationofAmericanHumorMarxoncesaid:"Manisthesumtotalofsocialrelations."TherichandvariedAmericanhumorinAmericansitcomsisaphenomenonworthstudying,andthegenerationofAmericanhumormusthaveitsdeeproots.4.1AmericanImmigrationHistoryTheUnitedStatesisanationofimmigrantswhohaveancestorsallovertheworld.TheUnitedStatesisanationofmanyracesanddifferentethnicities.SinceColumbusexcavatedtheNewWorldin1492,hundredsofimmigrantshaveflockedtotheUnitedStatesandestablishedtheirowncountries.Theprocessofimmigrationwasnotjustageographicalmove,butaprocessofbringingthecultureandcustomsoftheircountrytoanewplace.Thevarietyofcommonalitiesmadethefocusonunitynotsomuch,butrather,moreopenness.ItisherethatAmericanhumorisborn.DuringthecolonialperiodwhentheBritishimmigrantsweretherulers,theseimmigrantslivedintheupperclassofsociety,andthischangeinstatusfromthebottomofBritishsocietytotheupperclassofAmericansocietyalsoespeciallyinspiredtheirproudandexuberanthearts,andespeciallywantedtopushtheirownbehaviorandthinkinghabitsintosociety,thusguidingthemainstreamofAmericanculture,andtheAmericanracialculturewasmainlyreflectedinthebehaviorandideasofthispartofthepeople.TheBritishgovernment'slaissez-fairepolicyonsocialandculturaldevelopmentallowedtheuniqueAmericanspiritandculturetogrowoutofitsuniqueness,andbecamethemainsourceofmodernAmericanculture.Asthesepeoplecamefromdifferentgroups,theyallcrossedthedistantandriskyAtlanticOceanwiththeirdreamstoseekgoldinNorthAmerica,andthroughstrugglesettleddown,establishedtheirlives,startedtheirfamiliesandbuilttheircountryinaforeignland.TheUnitedStates,asanimmigrant,federalnation,hasadifferentconceptofnationandstatethanothernativepeopleswhohaveestablishednationsontheirownland.Itspeopleareofmanyracesandmanyethnicities,soAmericanAmericanhumorcomesfromeverywhereanddevelopseverywhere.4.2Native

American

CultureTheAmericancultureisveryinclusive,andinthisenvironment,peoplearefreetotalkaboutdifferentactions.Andthehumorthatcomesfromthisinclusivenesscannotbeignoredaswell.Example3:HanLee,asmallKoreanshopkeeperwhoisoftenridiculed,oncesaidtoanemployee,"Girls,Ihavemadeabigdecision!"andMaxmockinglysaid,"Areyougoingtoturnmeintoahumanbeing?You'regoingtobeatranssexual?I'mallforyou,ofcourse,but,Han,turningfromawomanintoamanisnotaneasythingtodo.Hanreplied,"Well,youwouldknow."WiththedevelopmentofnewcapitalisminNorthAmerica,localsocialco