History of Joke in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 24, 2026

A joke is a form of humor, typically presented as a short narrative with a specific structure designed to elicit laughter. Jokes rely on language, often utilizing techniques such as puns, irony, sarcasm, or hyperbole, to create a humorous effect. The narrative builds to a punchline, which reveals the source of the humor. According to linguist Robert Hetzron, a joke is a brief, humorous piece of oral literature where the funniness peaks in the final sentence, the punchline. Jokes are primarily oral, allowing for variations in retelling even if they appear in written form.

1900: Oldest Identified Joke

In 1900 BC, the oldest identified joke, a Sumerian proverb involving toilet humor, was recorded. The proverb states: "Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband's lap."

1905: Freud's Study on Jokes

In 1905, Sigmund Freud published "Jokes and their Relation to the Unconscious", recognizing jokes as an important subject for study. Freud described the social nature of humour and made distinctions between jokes, humour and the comic.

Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious (Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud)

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1910: Aarne-Thompson Index Published

In 1910, jokes were included under their own heading in the Aarne–Thompson index, titled "Anecdotes and Jokes".

1910: Aarne-Thompson Classification System First Published

In 1910, the Aarne–Thompson classification system, designed to organize folktales and oral literature, was first published by Antti Aarne. It was later expanded by Stith Thompson to become a renowned system, including a section addressing anecdotes and jokes.

1925: The New Yorker First Published

In 1925, The New Yorker magazine was first published with the intent of being a "sophisticated humour magazine". It continues to be known for its cartoons.

1930: Jokes Identified as "Simple Forms" of Oral Literature

In 1930, André Jolles identified jokes as one of the "simple forms" of oral literature, which were collected and studied. Jokes were included under their own heading in the Aarne–Thompson index.

1985: Raskin's "Semantic Mechanisms of Humor" Published

In 1985, Victor Raskin published "Semantic Mechanisms of Humor", presenting the Script-based Semantic Theory of Humour (SSTH) which identified the linguistic conditions that make a text funny and the mechanisms involved in creating the punchline.

[(Semantic Mechanisms of Humor)] [Author: Victor Raskin] published on (December, 1984)

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March 1986: Change in Humor Following the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster

In March 1986, following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, there was a change in the type of humour circulating. The initial jokes responded to the disaster with clever wordplay, while later jokes played with grim and troubling images associated with the event.

1989: International Society for Humor Studies Founded

In 1989, the International Society for Humor Studies was founded to promote the interdisciplinary study of humour, supporting organizations with similar goals, arranging meetings, and issuing publications.

1993: Carrell's Hypothesis of Audience-Based Theory

In 1993, Amy Carrell presented the hypothesis of an "audience-based theory of verbal humor".

2007: Survey of Humour Measurement Tools

In 2007, a survey identified over 60 psychological measurement instruments used to quantify humour and related states and traits. The tools use approaches like measuring physical responses (smiles) or laughter to measure funniness.