Download or read book Rebellious Laughter written by Joseph Boskin and published by Syracuse University Press. This book was released on 1997-11-01 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rebellious Laughter changes the way we think about the ordinary joke. Claiming that humor in America is a primary cultural weapon, Boskin surveys the multitude of joke cycles that have swept the country during the last fifty years. Dumb Blonde jokes. Elephant jokes. Jewish-American Princess jokes. Lightbulb jokes. Readers will enjoy humor from many diverse sources: whites, blacks, women, and Hispanics; conservatives and liberals; public workers and university students; the powerless and power brokers. Boskin argues that jokes provide a cultural barometer of concerns and anxieties, frequently appearing in our day-to-day language long before these issues become grist for stand-up comics.
Download or read book American Laughter written by Mark Winokur and published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book was released on 1996 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Marx Brothers to the screwball romance, Mark Winokur looks at the role of immigration and ethnicity on the development of American film comedy. Winokur employs a broad range of new concepts in film history and culture studies, from areas as diverse as Balkan politics, Art Deco, vaudeville, the Jewish lansmanshaft, and body criticism.
Download or read book The Senses of Humor written by Daniel Wickberg and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 2015-06-18 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why do modern Americans believe in something called a sense of humor, and how did they come to that belief? Daniel Wickberg traces the relatively short cultural history of the concept to its British origins as a way to explore new conceptions of the self and social order in modern America. More than simply the history of an idea, Wickberg's study provides new insights into a peculiarly modern cultural sensibility. The expression "sense of humor" was first coined in the 1840s, and the idea that such a sense was a personality trait to be valued developed only in the 1870s. What is the relationship between medieval humoral medicine and this distinctively modern idea of the sense of humor? What has it meant in the past 125 years to declare that someone lacks a sense of humor? Why do modern Americans say it is a good thing not to take oneself seriously? How is the joke, as a twentieth-century quasi-literary form, different from the traditional folktale? Wickberg addresses these questions among others and in the process uses the history of ideas to throw new light on the way contemporary Americans think and speak about humor and laughter. The context of Wickberg's analysis is Anglo-American; the specifically British meanings of humor and laughter from the sixteenth century forward provide the framework for understanding American cultural values in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The genealogy of the sense of humor is, like the study of keywords, an avenue into a significant aspect of the cultural history of modernity. Drawing on a wide range of sources and disciplinary perspectives, Wickberg's analysis challenges many of the prevailing views of modern American culture and suggests a new model for cultural historians.
Download or read book Make Em Laugh written by Michael Kantor and published by Twelve. This book was released on 2008-12-02 with total page 696 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the most popular routines and the most ingenious physical shtick to the snappiest wisecracks and the most biting satire of the last century, Make 'Em Laugh illuminates who we are as a nation by exploring what makes us laugh, and why. Authors Laurence Maslon and Michael Kantor draw on countless sources to chronicle the past century of American comedy and the geniuses who created and performed it-melding biography, American history, and a lotta laughs into an exuberant, important book. Each of the six chapters focuses a different style or archetype of comedy, from the slapstick pratfalls of Buster Keaton and Lucille Ball through the wiseguy put-downs of Groucho Marx and Larry David, to the incendiary bombshells of Mae West and Richard Pryor . And at every turn the significance of these comedians-smashing social boundaries, challenging the definition of good taste, speaking the truth to the powerful-is vividly tangible. Make 'Em Laugh is more than a compendium of American comic genius; it is a window onto the way comedy both reflects the world and changes it-one laugh at a time. Starting from the groundbreaking PBS series, the authors have gone deeper into the works and lives of America's great comic artists, with biographical portraits, archival materials, cultural overviews, and rare photos. Brilliantly illustrated, with insights (and jokes) from comedians, writers and producers, along with film, radio, television, and theater historians, Make 'Em Laugh is an indispensible, definitive book about comedy in America.
Download or read book American Laughter American Fury written by Eran A. Zelnik and published by Johns Hopkins University Press. This book was released on 2025-01-07 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How humor helped white men cast the United States as a nation in which only they were entitled to citizenship. A joke is never just a joke—not even in the eighteenth century. In American Laughter, American Fury, Eran A. Zelnik offers a cultural history of early America that shows how humor among white men served to define and construct not only whiteness and masculinity but also American political culture and democracy more generally. Zelnik traces the emerging bonds of affinity that white male settlers in North America cultivated through their shared, transformative experience of mirth. This humor—a category that includes not only jokes but also play, riot, revelry, and mimicry—shaped the democratic and anti-elitist sensibilities of Americans. It also defined the borders of who could participate in politics, notably excluding those who were not white men. While this anti-authoritarian humor transformed the early United States into a country that abhorred elitism and class hierarchies, ultimately the story is one of democratization gone awry: this same humor allowed white men to draw the borders of the new nation exclusively around themselves. Zelnik analyzes several distinct forms of humor to make his case: tall tales, "Indian play," Black dialect, riot and revelry, revolutionary protests, and blackface minstrelsy. This provocative study seeks to understand the vexing, contradictory interplay among humor, democracy, and violence at the heart of American history and culture that continues today.
Download or read book Laughter written by Anca Parvulescu and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2010-08-27 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Uncovering an archive of laughter, from the forbidden giggle to the explosive guffaw. Most of our theories of laughter are not concerned with laughter. Rather, their focus is the laughable object, whether conceived of as the comic, the humorous, jokes, the grotesque, the ridiculous, or the ludicrous. In Laughter, Anca Parvulescu proposes a return to the materiality of the burst of laughter itself. She sets out to uncover an archive of laughter, inviting us to follow its rhythms and listen to its tones. Historically, laughter—especially the passionate burst of laughter—has often been a faux pas. Manuals for conduct, abetted by philosophical treatises and literary and visual texts, warned against it, offering special injunctions to ladies to avoid jollity that was too boisterous. Returning laughter to the history of the passions, Parvulescu anchors it at the point where the history of the grimacing face meets the history of noise. In the civilizing process that leads to laughter's “falling into disrepute,” as Nietzsche famously put it, we can see the formless, contorted face in laughter being slowly corrected into a calm, social smile. How did the twentieth century laugh? Parvulescu points to a gallery of twentieth-century laughers and friends of laughter, arguing that it is through Georges Bataille that the century laughed its most distinct laugh. In Bataille's wake, laughter becomes the passion at the heart of poststructuralism. Looking back at the century from this vantage point, Parvulescu revisits four of its most challenging projects: modernism, the philosophical avant-gardes, feminism, and cinema. The result is an overview of the twentieth century as seen through the laughs that burst at some of its most convoluted junctures.
Download or read book Laughing Their Way written by Martha Bensley Bruère and published by . This book was released on 1934 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Women's humor in America during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Verse, prose, humorous drawings.
Download or read book Enjoyment of Laughter written by Max Eastman and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-29 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Humor at its best is a somewhat fluid and transitory element, but most books about it are illustrated with hardened old jokes from the comic papers, or classic witticisms jerked out of their context. Max Eastman, in this work, avoids this catastrophe by quoting mainly from contemporary American humor. This is not an anthology in that selections have been made with a view to making a point rather than covering the field. The purpose of Eastman's fabled work is to make the reader laugh. Since his early school days, it has seemed to him that textbooks are wrongly written in that they are conducted in a way which ignores the natural operation of the mind. As a result, the opinion is universal, and under the circumstances a fact, that in order to learn anything you have to study. Since this introduction to humor is itself near to writing a textbook, Eastman uses the very text he constructs to illustrate the manner in which textbooks should be written. Examination and classification of the kinds of humorous experience upon the basis of a theory is a science. As such, this work offers a fair chance to illustrate a method of instruction. However, the distinction between a good joke and a bad one will not prevent the reader from making bad jokes nor enable one to make good ones. There is an artistic and playful element that simply cannot be taught. Enjoyment of Laughter presents a total view of the science of laughter and draws upon some of the great American humorists to do so.
Download or read book Cracking Up written by Paul Lewis and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2006-10-02 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What do Jon Stewart, Freddy Krueger, Patch Adams, and George W. Bush have in common? As Paul Lewis shows in Cracking Up, they are all among the ranks of joke tellers who aim to do much more than simply amuse. Exploring topics that range from the sadistic mockery of Abu Ghraib prison guards to New Age platitudes about the healing power of laughter, from jokes used to ridicule the possibility of global climate change to the heartwarming performances of hospital clowns, Lewis demonstrates that over the past thirty years American humor has become increasingly purposeful and embattled. Navigating this contentious world of controversial, manipulative, and disturbing laughter, Cracking Up argues that the good news about American humor in our time—that it is delightful, relaxing, and distracting—is also the bad news. In a culture that both enjoys and quarrels about jokes, humor expresses our most nurturing and hurtful impulses, informs and misinforms us, and exposes as well as covers up the shortcomings of our leaders. Wondering what’s so funny about a culture determined to laugh at problems it prefers not to face, Lewis reveals connections between such seemingly unrelated jokers as Norman Cousins, Hannibal Lecter, Rush Limbaugh, Garry Trudeau, Jay Leno, Ronald Reagan, Beavis and Butt-Head, and Bill Clinton. The result is a surprising, alarming, and at times hilarious argument that will appeal to anyone interested in the ways humor is changing our cultural and political landscapes.
Download or read book Reeling with Laughter written by Michael Tueth and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2012 with total page 229 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, Tueth looks at some of the most enduring comic movies of all time. Beginning with the anarchic romp Duck Soup (1933), each chapter explores a specific sub-genre by examining a representative film. Tueth delves into the background of each film's production and discusses their audience reception and critical appraisal.
Download or read book The Wit and Humor of America written by Marshall Pinckney Wilder and published by Prabhat Prakashan. This book was released on 2023-10-01 with total page 183 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Embark on a delightful journey through the comedic landscape of America with "The Wit and Humor of America" curated by Marshall Pinckney Wilder. Prepare to be entertained and uplifted as you explore a rich tapestry of laughter, satire, and wit from some of the nation's most beloved writers and humorists. Join Marshall Pinckney Wilder as he celebrates the timeless art of American humor, from Mark Twain's wry observations to Dorothy Parker's razor-sharp wit. Through a curated selection of anecdotes, essays, and sketches, Wilder offers readers a glimpse into the unique cultural heritage of American comedy. Explore the themes and motifs that define American humor, from the absurdities of everyday life to the complexities of human nature. Wilder's collection showcases the diversity of comedic voices in America, inviting readers to laugh, ponder, and celebrate the rich tapestry of human experience. Through insightful character analysis, Wilder sheds light on the personalities and perspectives of America's most iconic humorists. From the irreverent humor of H.L. Mencken to the gentle satire of James Thurber, each writer brings a distinctive voice to the collective chorus of American comedy. The overall tone and mood of "The Wit and Humor of America" are as varied and vibrant as the nation itself, blending laughter with insight, satire with sentiment. Wilder's selection of works reflects the eclectic spirit of American humor, offering something for every taste and temperament. Since its publication, "The Wit and Humor of America" has delighted readers with its timeless appeal and enduring relevance. Wilder's thoughtful curation and engaging commentary make this anthology a cherished treasure for anyone who appreciates the art of laughter. Whether you're a seasoned comedy aficionado or simply in need of a good laugh, "The Wit and Humor of America" promises to entertain and uplift. Wilder's collection is a testament to the enduring power of laughter to unite, inspire, and illuminate the human spirit. Don't miss your chance to experience the wit and humor of America with this delightful anthology. Let Wilder's curated selection of comedic gems brighten your day and remind you of the joy that comes from seeing the world through a lens of laughter.
Download or read book Laughter in the Wilderness written by William Howland Kenney and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Laughing written by Charles Keller and published by Prentice Hall. This book was released on 1977-01-01 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A collection of American humor from colonial times to 1969 with introductions to the selections tracing the development of humor in the United States.
Download or read book American Laughter written by Mark Brian Winokur and published by . This book was released on 1985 with total page 742 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Laughter written by Robert R. Provine and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2001-12-01 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do men and women laugh at the same things? Is laughter contagious? Has anyone ever really died laughing? Is laughing good for your health? Drawing upon ten years of research into this most common-yet complex and often puzzling-human phenomenon, Dr. Robert Provine, the world's leading scientific expert on laughter, investigates such aspects of his subject as its evolution, its role in social relationships, its contagiousness, its neural mechanisms, and its health benefits. This is an erudite, wide-ranging, witty, and long-overdue exploration of a frequently surprising subject.
Download or read book The American written by and published by . This book was released on 1890 with total page 772 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Laughter in the Living Room written by Michael Tueth and published by Peter Lang Incorporated, International Academic Publishers. This book was released on 2005 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For more than fifty years some very funny people have been entering American homes through television's big picture window. From Lucy and Uncle Miltie, to Archie Bunker and Marge Simpson, certain comic stars of television history have become not just cultural icons, but friends of the family. This comprehensive study of the most successful television comedies - including domestic sitcoms, workplace comedies, variety shows, late-night comedy, animated comedy, and more - reveals that, unlike the comedy found in film, on stage, in comedy clubs and concert halls, television's presentation of comic characters and stories must negotiate a relationship with the more privatized and value-laden environment of each American home that it enters.
