ABSTRACT
This chapter presents some materials from a study of highbrow and lowbrow humour in the Netherlands. It suggests that using the notion of humour style. The chapter argues that this concept is very useful in the analysis of cultural differences in sense of humour, and the often far-reaching social consequences of those differences. It explores the various ways in which humour can be related to social background, illustrates the use of the concept of humour style. Age differences in sense of humour had to do mainly with differences in the tolerance and appreciation of offensive humour. The lowbrow humour style characterizes comedians and television shows in which performance and presentation are very important. The relationship between class culture and humour style merely serves to illustrate the workings of humour in demarcating, and sometimes in transcending, humour styles. Every culture and subculture has its own standards for good humour, along with its dislike for bad humour.
