SEMINAR ANNOUNCEMENT
The fourth International Humor Studies Seminar will be held at the
University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) from June 21 until June 26, 1999.
This year's Seminar features Rod A. Martin and Amy Carrell.
1999 SEMINAR COURSES
SENSE OF HUMOR, HEALTH, AND WELLBEING--ROD A. MARTIN
The idea that humor is good for one's health has become generally
accepted as fact, and the health-enhancing benefits of humor are
being widely promoted through books, seminars, workshops,
magazine articles, and the internet. This course will examine the
theoretical rationale and empirical evidence concerning the
relationship between sense of humor and both physical and
psychological health. We will begin with discussion of several
key questions: What do we mean by sense of humor? What do we mean
by health? What are the possible mechanisms by which humor might
influence health? We will then examine methods and criteria for
evaluating empirical research in this field. The remainder of
the course will focus on a review and evaluation of the existing
research in several health-related areas, such as the
relationship between humor and the immune system, pain, and
coping with stress. It is hoped that this course will provide an
empirically grounded understanding of what we know and what we
don't know about humor and health.
HUMOR THEORIES, AUDIENCES, AND MORE-AMY CARRELL
This course will begin by looking at some of the major facets of humor,
especially the social nature of humor, and then move to an examination of
some of the major theories and groups of theories of humor. The course will
then move to a discussion of what happens when individuals hear joke texts,
how such texts are processed, and what joke texts can reveal not only about
the content but the teller and audience. Finally, the course will examine
some of the practical applications of the Audience-Based Theory of Verbal
Humor.
AMY CARRELL, DIRECTOR AND FACULTY
Amy Carrell earned her Ph.D. in linguistics from Purdue University in 1993
and is currently an associate professor of English at the University of
Central Oklahoma. She has been president of the International Society for
Humor Studies (ISHS) and chaired the 1997 ISHS conference at the University
of Central Oklahoma. Dr. Carrell has taught courses on humor and laughter
and has spoken internationally, especially about her audience-based theory
of verbal humor. She is on the board of consulting editors of HUMOR:
International Journal of Humor Research and the patronat and organizing
committee of the annual congress on therapeutic humor in Basel, Switzerland.
ROD A. MARTIN, FACULTY
Rod A. Martin obtained his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University
of Waterloo, Canada, in 1984 and has been a faculty member in the Department
of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario (Canada) since then.
He has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on sense of
humor, stress, and coping. With Herbert Lefcourt, he is co-author of Humor
and Life Stress: Antidote to Adversity. He is currently a member of the
board of directors of the International Society for Humor Studies and is
on the board of consulting editors of HUMOR: International Journal of
Humor Research.
ACADEMIC CREDIT OPTIONS
The International Humor Studies Seminar is available for three undergraduate
or graduate credits for participants admissible to the University of Central
Oklahoma. For more information, please contact the Seminar Director or
indicate on the registration form.
CERTIFICATION
Upon successful completion of the Seminar, participants will receive a
certificate of endorsement from the Seminar Director and the International
Society for Humor Studies.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Two $100 scholarships are available. To apply for a Seminar scholarship,
please submit a letter of application to the Seminar Director by April 20,
1999, explaining why you are applying for the scholarship, and include at
least one letter of recommendation. A subcommittee of the Advisory Board
will determine awards by May 15, 1999.
SEMINAR ADVISORY BOARD
Max Deon, Zurich, Switzerland
William F. Fry, Nevada City, California
Peter Hain, Zurich, Switzerland
Siegfried E. Heit, University of Central Oklahoma
Clyde Jacob, University of Central Oklahoma
Rod A. Martin, University of Western Ontario
Brad Morelli, Guthrie, Oklahoma
Alleen P. Nilsen, Arizona State University
Don L. F. Nilsen, Arizona State University
Elliott Oring, California State University-Los Angeles
Victor Raskin, Purdue University
Willibald Ruch, Duesseldorf, Germany
Waleed A. Salameh, San Diego, California
Michael Titze, Tuttlingen, Germany
HOST CAMPUS
The University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), founded in 1890, is located in
Edmond, just outside Oklahoma City, and is serviced by Will Rogers World
Airport in Oklahoma City. UCO, the third largest university in the state,
enrolls approximately 14,000 students. Seminar classes will be held from
8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. until
noon on Saturday in the Liberal Arts Building. Seminar participants will
have easy access to the University Center, the library, and the Internet.
For more information about the University of Central Oklahoma, please visit
its web site:
www.ucok.edu.
FOOD, LODGING, AND TRANSPORTATION
Seminar participants will be responsible for arranging their own food and
lodging. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Stafford Inn, less than
a mile from the campus, at the deeply discounted rate of $280, including tax,
for seven nights. Rooms at the Stafford Inn include whirlpools, cable
television, free local calls, and continental breakfast. The Stafford Inn
is located at 1809 East Second Street, Edmond, OK 73034, USA. For toll-free
reservations, please call 1-888-730-9162; the local number is 405-340-8197.
Reservations should be made by May 15, 1999.
Food service is available in the University Center, which includes a full-
service restaurant, a food court, and a convenience store. The UCO campus
and the Stafford Inn are within easy walking distance of a number of
restaurants as well as of quaint downtown Edmond. Transportation will be
provided between the Stafford Inn and the campus daily.
REGISTRATION FORM
International Humor Studies Seminar
June 21-26, 1999
A money order or check in US funds made payable to UCO--Humor Studies or the
completed credit card information must accompany this registration form
which must be postmarked NO LATER than May 21, 1999. Please use one form
per registrant; photocopy this form for additional registrants. To qualify
for the early registration discount, all fees must be postmarked by
May 21, 1999. Registration may be cancelled and the fee, less the deposit,
refunded. Early registration is encouraged because class size is limited.
Fee Schedule
Seminar fees (June 21-26) $395* $ _______________
$445**
(*balance postmarked by May 21, 1999)
(**balance due June 21, 1999)
Seminar deposit $200 $ _______________
(postmarked by May 21, 1999)
Amount enclosed $ _______________
Balance due (fee less deposit) $ _______________
Check here for UCO admissions packet _____
Fees for academic credit in state out of state
undergraduate $183.60 $444.10
graduate $228.60 $534.60
Name _______________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
Telephone (Day) ________________ (Evening) ___________________
Affiliation ___________________________________________________
Fax _______________________ e-mail __________________________
For payment with credit card, please complete the following information:
Circle One: VISA MASTERCARD DISCOVER
Authorized amount ____________________________________________
Number _____________________________________________________
Expiration date ________________
Signature ____________________________________________________
(required when using credit card)
Mail with payment to
Amy Carrell
International Humor Studies Seminar Director
Department of English
University of Central Oklahoma
100 North University Drive
Edmond, OK 73034-0184 USA
If paying by credit card, you may fax your registration to (405) 974-3823.
For more information, please contact Amy Carrell at the above address,
by phone at (405) 974-5609, or by e-mail at
acarrell@ucok.edu.