Final answer:
Trevor Noah uses humor in 'Born a Crime' to engage readers and provide insightful commentary on serious themes like apartheid and racial identity. Historically, stories such as the Curse of Ham have been shaped by various interpretations and have impacted moral views across cultures. Like Noah, Mark Twain also used humor to express important critiques of society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject discussed pertains to the use of humor in storytelling, especially in relation to the book Born a Crime. The book's author, Trevor Noah, often employs humor as a tool to approach heavy and complex themes, such as apartheid, racial dynamics, and personal identity. One of the reasons for using humor might be to engage a wider audience and to provide a nuanced understanding of difficult topics without becoming overwhelmingly somber or didactic.
Within historical texts, events like the Curse of Ham and the depiction of the biblical flood are examples of stories that have been interpreted in various ways throughout history, often bearing weighty moral and ethical considerations. They have been depicted in art, interpreted in rabbinical literature, and have shaped perceptions of morality across different cultures.
Contemporary storytellers like Noah employ humor as a method to discuss historical inequities and the absurdities of discrimination, as a means to both educate and entertain their readers. This application of humor can also be seen in Mark Twain's works, where funny narratives convey critical messages about human nature and societal follies.