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CALL FOR PAPERS

HUMOUR AND SOCIAL PROTEST

Supplement International Review of Social History 14 (2007)

Humour is a most intriguing aspect of social life. It can be used in 
various ways, by a great variety of actors, to convey meanings and 
intentions, overt and covert, in cartoons and jokes, in puns and satires, 
in music and songs, in theatre and performances. As humour always contains 
at least some malice (possibly concealed), it can be extremely useful as a 
conflict device. In social and political conflict, ridiculing has often 
proved to be an effective means with which to damage the position of an 
adversary. Besides this primary, offensive function, humour has been 
instrumental in mobilizing sympathizers and support and helped to release 
tension during prolonged struggle. Within social movements humour was an 
important factor in distinguishing between “them and us”, helping to define 
the boundaries of the movement and its following, as well as constructing 
an internal hierarchy. The form and content of typical insider jokes 
circulating in social movements helped to exclude those who “didn’t get the 
joke” from the movement itself or from its core membership. Derogatory 
jokes about women (or men), youth (or the elderly), peasants (or city 
folk), Jews, gentiles, blacks and whites were used to develop and 
circumscribe a distinct milieu and subculture. Within social movements, 
some militants and leaders became highly popular thanks to their sense of 
humour and theatrical talents, using the speaker’s platform for a 
politicized form of stand-up comedy, and using this popularity as a basis 
for their career. Yet humour is by no means a simple revolutionary tool. 
Some movements considered their cause too grave to allow any laughs. 
Furthermore, some jokes typically further resignation and acquiescence, 
above all in self-deprecating humour. Humour may also serve well to 
preserve the status quo and the power of the ruling majority, by furthering 
stereotypes of the oppressed for example.

Selection criteria for papers
The International Review of Social History is preparing a Supplement on the 
role of humour in social protest. We are interested above all in articles 
that analyse how humour helps to create and sustain social movements. 
Various types of humour can be of interest, ranging from puns to trickster 
legends, from wayang performances to jazz music, from practical jokes to 
gallows humour. A dynamic approach would be appreciated: to what degree 
does humour support the emergence of a social movement? How does it foster 
the perception of community in that movement? Is the disappearance of 
humour related to a decline of the movement, or to increased tensions? Has 
the character of humour changed over time, for example from a self-
deprecating tradition into a self-conscious and claiming position? Is 
humour always an inherent element in social movements with strong natural 
barriers, such as in separatist, inter-ethnic or inter-racial conflicts? 
Can humour be equally powerful in social movements that are strongly 
determined by ideological struggles? Is humour typically furthered by the 
leadership of the movement or by the grassroots?
Authors are encouraged to address one or more of these topics. 
Contributions dealing with any kind of social movement are welcome, from 
any time period and from any region. Yet to strengthen the comparative 
character of the Supplement, the editors would particularly appreciate 
comparative contributions and studies on social movements in non-Western 
societies.

Time schedule 
Before 1 December 2005: brief outlines of articles by authors
February 2006: Letter of acceptance (or rejection) of proposals
Before 1 September 2006: First draft of articles
November 2006: Letter by the editors to authors about necessary revisions
Before 15 January 2007: Second draft of articles
April 2007: Final version of manuscript to copy editor
December 2007: Supplement is published
Please send outlines to: [log in to unmask]

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