There’s not been much to joke about in 2020, with a pandemic, protests against inequality, and a tense political atmosphere leaving many people anxious. But humour is a powerful coping mechanism, one that creates moments of collective calm. So, how can brands get people laughing again?
Steven Gimbel is a professor of philosophy at Gettysburg College. His books include Isn’t that Clever: A Philosophy of Humour and Comedy.
Thomas Cock is a stand-up comedian and yoga teacher. He runs Fall in Laugh, a laughter yoga experience, on Airbnb.
Peter McGraw is a behavioural economist at the University of Colorado Boulder. His most recent book is Shtick to Business. He is also the founder of the Humour Research Lab.
Simon Stuart is a clinical psychologist who specialises in adult mental health.
Alex Diggins is a writer journalist based in Oxford. He writes regularly for leading publications including The Economist, Wired, New Scientist, The Telegraph and The TLS. He is also published in Rife: Twenty-One Stories from Britain's Youth (Unbound). @AHABDiggins
