Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce that this year’s Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR) seminar series is entitled ‘Beyond a Joke’: Comedy, Identity and Offence. It will examine the complex and dynamic relationship between comedy, identity and
offence, with each seminar focusing on either class, religion or gender.
Our first seminar is:
Comedy, Class and Offence
Wednesday 12th October 2016 4.30pm-6.30pm
Newton North, Hamilton Centre, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
What are the roles of comedians and comic discourses in shaping discussions of class and offence in contemporary society? How do our identities shape responses to comedy that draws on social class? What are the range of responses to comedy that draws on social
class? What is the relationship between comedy, offensiveness and the maintenance, disruption and deconstruction of ‘social cohesion’ in contemporary plural democracies? To what extent are there, or should there be, ethical limits for comedians and comic discourses
in relation to class? These questions, and more, will be explored by a panel of experts at the Comedy, Class and Offence panel seminar.
Confirmed speakers include:
Mark Boosey: has been
running British Comedy Guide for over 10 years. Comedy.co.uk delivers news, features, programme guides, and more besides to over 500,000 visitors a month. BCG compiles guides to the 800+ hours of new comedy broadcast on TV and radio each year, as well as covering
films, online comedy and the live comedy circuit.
Leon Hunt: is
a Senior Lecturer in Film and TV Studies at Brunel University London. His publications on British comedy include the books British Low Culture: From Safari Suits to Sexploitation, a BFI monograph on The League of Gentlemen and Cult British
TV Comedy: From Reeves and Mortimer to Psychoville.
Giselinde Kuipers: is
Professor of Cultural Sociology and Head of the Department of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam. She is the author of Good Humor, Bad Taste: A Sociology of the Joke as well as numerous articles on humour, media, cultural globalization, transnational
culture and beauty.
James Meehan: is
a multi award-winning comedian who has just returned from this year’s Edinburgh Fringe where his debut solo hour, Class Act, a stand-up comedy show on classism in the arts garnered critical praise.
Chaired by John Roberts: Head
of Department of Social Sciences, Media and Communications and Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Communications, Brunel University London.
Please email [log in to unmask] to
reserve your place.
We are also pleased to announce that we have one £50.00 travel grant available for a
low income researcher or PhD student attending this event. Please email Simon Weaver ([log in to unmask]) Monday
3rd October 2016 if you wish to apply. To apply please send a short paragraph (max 250 words) explaining why you wish to attend the panel seminar.
Everyone very welcome. We look forward to you joining us for a lively discussion!
Don’t forget you can also follow us on twitter @Comedy_Studies.
Best wishes,
Sharon
Dr Sharon Lockyer
Director, Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR)
Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Communications
Department of Social Sciences, Media and Communications
College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
Brunel University
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 3PH
UK
Email: [log in to unmask]
Twitter: @Comedy_Studies