문학과 지성사

Are we laughing enough?
The emotional topology of Korean society, explained through the spectrum of humor.

By putting the social aspect of laughter under the microscope, Humorism elucidates the diverse life experiences in relation to humor and the emotional topology of Korean society. The author states that what inspired him to write this book was “an experience of being unable to laugh with someone.” Being unable to laugh together may be the hallmark of disconnectedness or even a symptom of serious violence—laughing at someone you look down on, lewd remarks and sexual harassment, and the smug grin on the faces of those with power and status. Regrettably, such unhealthy humor pervades our society. In Humorism, Kim Chanho casts light on the dark side of humor, where various contradictions of human society and different strains of emotions are entangled. The spectrum of humor is incredibly wide, as the emotions included in it are diverse. Humor is one of the most accurate mirrors of a society.

The book’s title, Humorism, combines the concepts of humor and humanism. While humor is often thought of as a supplementary ingredient in our conversations, it offers a crucial insight and practical basis for what it means to be a human. It is not secondary to our problems but the index of relational soundness. At a time when it’s urgent to forgo the obsessive fantasy of infinite growth and replace it with inquiries on the meaning of life, humor is a useful tool for the multifaceted search for life’s untapped potential. Thus, the book investigates the function of humor as a shaping agent for a better life and advocates for the types of humor that resist the inhumane reality and reinforce our creative power of imagination.