Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Laughing at death: The forms and functions of humor in illness trauma narratives

Iannarino, Nicholas T.

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, Communication.
This thesis attempts to demonstrate that public storytelling and memoirs – if crafted and shared effectively – may elicit beneficial private/intrapersonal and public/interpersonal functions, and might be utilized as effective media for the formulation and dissemination of humorous health narratives. Through the study of three illness trauma narratives that utilize humor, this thesis analyzes the forms in which productive humor was employed throughout the process of narrative construction, and the information the humorous aspects of the narrative product expresses to audiences about the illness experience. More specifically, this thesis attempts to demonstrate that the integration of humor with health narratives can effectively call attention to health issues such as REM sleep behavior disorder, severe drug addiction, and cancer.
Teresa Thompson, PhD (Committee Chair)
James Robinson, PhD (Committee Member)
Louis Cusella, PhD (Committee Member)
Kathleen Watters, PhD (Committee Member)
231 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Iannarino, N. T. (2010). Laughing at death: The forms and functions of humor in illness trauma narratives [Master's thesis, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1287429452

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Iannarino, Nicholas. Laughing at death: The forms and functions of humor in illness trauma narratives. 2010. University of Dayton, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1287429452.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Iannarino, Nicholas. "Laughing at death: The forms and functions of humor in illness trauma narratives." Master's thesis, University of Dayton, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1287429452

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)