Laughter is part of a universal language of basic emotions that all humans share. In our world are thousands of languages and hundreds of thousands of dialects, but everyone speaks the language of laughter.  It’s good exercise; laughter speeds up heart rates, deepens breathing, and strengthens the immune system.  But what causes it?

The humor that provokes laughter varies along with cultures in which it is found around the world. Historically, humor has been analyzed and theorized upon by scholars from Aristotle to Freud.  It involves a diverse array of tastes and trends, word plays, sexual innuendo, intellectual mockery, and even jokes about death. 

Join us as we travel around the world, exploring the elusive source of humor in various cultures through the marvelous medium of film.  What makes people laugh in Kurdistan is not always the same as what amuses Canadians…but it might just tickle your funny bone!  

The the movies are shown at UICA: 2 West Fulton Street,  Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (view the location in Google Maps). You can also find us on Facebook.

Mini Films start at 2:30PM followed by Films. You can learn more about the films by clicking the links below: