Laughter: Between Rigidity and Flexibility

This text aims to analyze the scope of laughter in today’s society. It also seeks to make visible the nature or elements brought forth by humor, including a characteristic rigidity of things devoid of vitality and the use of a flexibility that
should be inherent to human beings. This analysis takes a brief journey into Henri Bergson’s theory as presented in “Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic,” exploring themes such as humor arising from a lack of vital elasticity among people and in life itself. Ultimately, we understand that laughter holds deep philosophical significance and also serves to regulate our behaviors. This ethical purpose is made evident through literary works like “The Misanthrope” and “The Miser” by Jean-Baptiste
Poquelin, as well as films like “Modern Times” directed by Charles Chaplin, which initially highlight theories about laughter and the use of social elements that could account for the interplay between mechanical rigidity and human adaptability in actions.