SPACE IN VIETNAMESE FOLK JOKES

Abstract

Space is a crucial category in Vietnamese folk humor, as it not only reflects the material world but also conveys artistic intentions and social relationships. It is not merely a location or setting, but an aesthetic field where satirical situations are constructed. A survey reveals four typical types of space: rural villages, families, officialdom, and the spiritual realm. Each space carries both realistic and symbolic dimensions. While family space tends to evoke everyday laughter and gentle moral lessons, the spaces of authority and spirituality open possibilities for profound mockery of dominant powers through forms of “soft resistance,” expressing folk wisdom and critical spirit. The flexibility and multi-layered meaning of artistic space significantly contribute to the vitality and intellectual depth of the Vietnamese folk humor genre that, though created to entertain, is rich in humanism and critical values.