2023-10-01 at

Humor in Hierarchical Cultures

Sociological observations from my sister's wedding. It was a Chinese Malaysian wedding, between working class professionals. I thought about it in comparison with other cultures. I think what's evident about this local scene is ... age polarisation! 

Old Chinese culture can be rather hierarchical (not so sure about East Asian, or Asian in general). Traditionally, there are no equals -everyone is algorithmically ranked and either formally senior or junior to anyone else. So irony and humour in general, take the form of hyperbolic role-playing as either very childish, or a very aged personalities. 

Teasing remains in this plane, and that accounts for the sorts of party games, humour, and decorum between people in general. Some might find it infantilising, but that's just the local context.

Celebratory events tend to be similarly polarised as being about either youth or maturity. 

Fascinating - just a passing thought. Nothing too academic of course.

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