Media and affect are an essential part of our daily life. Not surprisingly the have a connection to each other. While consuming media we usually get affected by certain emotions, may it be sadness or happiness. This thesis focuses upon a positive affect, which is mostly shown through laughter. Laughter is usually a reaction to comedy or humour, and it is similarly evident in people’s response to the media. In order to discuss laughter as a result of the media, it is first necessary to define comedy and its component parts. Theories on this topic go back to ancient times. This shows not only a continued interest but is also leads to varying theories and analyses surrounding it. Visual and oral comedy, are the main elements, within which the media works. In these you can find characteristics like repetition, astonishment or confusion. Adversities and misfortunes of other people can cause the biggest laughter.
Laughter is a collective phenomenon, which gives the human being a positive and good feeling. Tears of joy can be caused by hearty laugh, which can also have healthy affects on the body. However to have this intensity it usually needs a counterpart. Media like Film, Television or Internet give people the opportunity to consume contents, which consciously give them this positive affect, or even makes them laugh. From the beginning humor and comedy have been part of the film and media world. The content people laugh at has not substantial change since the analysis of Plato or Aristotle. The way in which they are shown and the option to shoe them has however changed throughout history. Humor and laughter are strongly bounded to the time and the society, in which they are formed.
Medial and technological changes have also a considerable influence on the consuming situation of Film, Television and Internet. It seems that the reception stems from the collective towards an individualized viewing, which could cause a loss of positive affection and intensity of the laughter experience while media reception.
It should be added, that laughing within a community, could have a variety of meanings and affects other than simply the response to something funny. However to show this variety and its positive affect you need other people.

Media and affect are an essential part of our daily life. Not surprisingly the have a connection to each other. While consuming media we usually get affected by certain emotions, may it be sadness or happiness. This thesis focuses upon a positive affect, which is mostly shown through laughter. Laughter is usually a reaction to comedy or humour, and it is similarly evident in people’s response to the media. In order to discuss laughter as a result of the media, it is first necessary to define comedy and its component parts. Theories on this topic go back to ancient times. This shows not only a continued interest but is also leads to varying theories and analyses surrounding it. Visual and oral comedy, are the main elements, within which the media works. In these you can find characteristics like repetition, astonishment or confusion. Adversities and misfortunes of other people can cause the biggest laughter.
Laughter is a collective phenomenon, which gives the human being a positive and good feeling. Tears of joy can be caused by hearty laugh, which can also have healthy affects on the body. However to have this intensity it usually needs a counterpart. Media like Film, Television or Internet give people the opportunity to consume contents, which consciously give them this positive affect, or even makes them laugh. From the beginning humor and comedy have been part of the film and media world. The content people laugh at has not substantial change since the analysis of Plato or Aristotle. The way in which they are shown and the option to shoe them has however changed throughout history. Humor and laughter are strongly bounded to the time and the society, in which they are formed.
Medial and technological changes have also a considerable influence on the consuming situation of Film, Television and Internet. It seems that the reception stems from the collective towards an individualized viewing, which could cause a loss of positive affection and intensity of the laughter experience while media reception.
It should be added, that laughing within a community, could have a variety of meanings and affects other than simply the response to something funny. However to show this variety and its positive affect you need other people.