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When approaching the idea that laughter is the best medicine, I proceed with a healthy dose of skepticism. But when the idea is expanded to anyone can laugh for no reason without relying on humor, jokes or comedy, Im confident were headed straight for quack territory. Yet this is exactly the doctrine that Laughter Clubs preach. And with 6000 strong in over 60 countries, I can hardly write off these so-called Laughter Clubs as the latest in New Age garbage. In fact, since 1995 people have congregated in increasing numbers to engage in a series of exercises that essentially manufacture laughter. I cant help but think of the scene from The Tin Drum in which the blas young people of post-war Germany gather at clubs to peel onions in order to weep in each others company. Fake emotions to create a mutual experience. But Indian physician Madan Kataria does not necessarily see that as a bad thing. While doing research for a journal on the medicinal benefits of laughter, Kataria hypothesized that the body cannot physically differentiate between fake and real laughter. By his logic, one does not need to see Louis CK do stand-up or watch Arrested Development to attain the healing power laughter can provide. Read the rest at Splitsider.---See more posts by The Awl0 comments Read More ...
