Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answers.

Write your answer in 240–280 words on the separate answer sheet.

1. Divided by Comedy

The Office quickly became a hit TV comedy in Britain when it appeared in 2001. Shot in documentary style, it showed the workings of a dull office in which the workers who had managed to stay sane were forced to endure the awkward and immature actions of their co-workers, particularly their socially-inept boss. The British loved the uncompromising humour but when the series was remade for American viewers, the boss became more likeable and competent, and the workplace more optimistic. This is further evidence of deep-rooted differences in the humour of the two countries. All too often comedy gets lost in translation.

Universally Funny

Germans with no sense of humour and Americans who do not understand irony are common stereotypes in Britain. However, in the final report from LaughLab, a research project which set out to find the world’s funniest joke, Germany came top of the humour table, laughing at the widest range of jokes. Similarly, it is not hard to find examples of American irony; popular shows like The Simpsons and Curb your Enthusiasm are full of it. Is it now time to get rid of the stereotypes and recognise that the best comedy really is universal?

Write your essay.



It is widely acknowledged that what people find funny is commonly culturally related. The two texts offer contradictory points regarding the stereotypical views of humour among nations. This essay aims to summarise and evaluate the arguments mentioned by both authors.

The first text highlights the differences of perception of humour in different nations. What is funny in one country can be otherwise in another. The British comedy ‘Office, for this reason has been remade to appeal to the viewers in the USA. The author further comments that in this way films lose their originality. The second author, on the other hand, challenges stereotypes, suggesting that the same humour could be accepted by representatives of different nationalities. The author therefore concludes that the best comedy is the one that is perceived worldwide.  

I tend to keep a conservative view of stereotypical thinking. It is true that sense of humour is usually a matter of personal preference and we can find people with great sense of humour not only in the USA, but also, say in Germany. But I believe that there are usually reasons why preconceptions exists. It is not accidental that we exercise caution when making humour with people from other cultures. Therefore getting rid of stereotypes might put us at a risk of being at best misunderstood or at worst being found outrageous when sharing jokes across cultural lines. This is why comedies of one country should be adapted to appeal to the viewers from another country. By doing so, I believe the gain from cross-cultural appreciation outweighs the perceived loss of originality. In fact, I tend to have reservations about universally accepted humour for this reason.

To sum up, I am convinced that cultural norms and expectations should be taken into account when using humour. For it is these preconceptions that limit the chances of being misinterpreted.

05.07.2025 



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