Sigmund Freud and Chajim Bloch: Exploring the Role of the Jewish Joke in European Jewish Identity
Public Deposited- Last Modified
- February 26, 2019
- Creator
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Lee, Tesla
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures
- Abstract
- This honors thesis explores Sigmund Freud’s work on Jewish jokes as expressed in his 1905 publication of Der Witz und seine Beziehung zum Unbewussten, as well as the life and publications of Chajim Bloch, a twentieth century author of short narratives on a variety of topics including East European Jewish humor. This project relates these two authors’ writings on Jewish jokes to the historical events which occurred in early twentieth century Vienna, where both men lived and worked. The thesis shows that Jewish jokes were a part of the culture in Vienna and demonstrates two different methodologies used to employ Jewish jokes. This is accomplished by exploring the ways in which Freud categorizes the joke, expounding upon what he says about the function of jokes, as well as why he uses Jewish jokes so frequently. Freud's insight into the Jewish joke is then juxtaposed with the works of Chajim Bloch who, as will be demonstrated, did not just use Jewish jokes in a different way, but has also slipped under the radar of scholars since, despite publishing more than twenty books, remains a less known figure in terms of his life and publications. This research therefore offers not only biographical information on Chajim Bloch, but also analyzes some of his writings and makes a claim for his motives.
- Date of publication
- spring 2016
- Keyword
- DOI
- Resource type
- Rights statement
- In Copyright
- Note
- Funding: Carolina Center for Jewish Studies Research Fund
- Advisor
- von Bernuth, Ruth
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honors level
- Honors
- Degree granting institution
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Extent
- 50
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