ABSTRACT
Humour is a complex psychological and interpersonal phenomenon involving both emotions and cognitions, the conscious and the unconscious mind as well as the human body. This chapter examines multifaceted manifestation of humour in its strong connection to the physical body and its visual representations in art therapy and in art at large. Art therapy is considered to be a dialogue between a client and a therapist mediated by art materials and products. Approaches to art therapy vary depending on the theoretical orientation of therapists who are carefully chosen taking into account organisational considerations as well as clinical, cultural and social-demographic factors. Verbal and visual expression can be combined to reveal a humorous attitude even more fully, as is typical for comics, cartoons and comedy. Combining developmental, clinical-psychiatric and social-cultural considerations is necessary for a more balanced understanding of the many positive functions of humour and its therapeutic potential.
