Because I Tell a Joke Or Two: Comedy, Politics, and Social DifferenceStephen Wagg Because I Tell a Joke or Two explores the complex relationship between comedy and the social differences of class, region, age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and nationhood. It shows how comedy has been used to sustain, challenge and to change power relationships in society. The contributors, who include Stephen Wagg, Mark Simpson, Stephen Small, Paul Wells and Frances Williams, offer readings of comedy genres, texts and performers in Britain, the United States and Australia. The collection also includes an interview with the comedian Jo Brand. Topics addressed include: * women in British comedies such as Butterflies and Fawlty Towers * the life and times of Viz, from Billy the Fish to the Fat Slags * queer readings of Morecambe and Wise, the male double act * the Marx brothers and Jewish comedy in the United States * black radical comedy in Britain * The Golden Girls, Cheers, Friends and American society. |
Contents
AT EASE CORPORAL | 1 |
THE LANCASHIRE SHAMAN | 32 |
BUTTERFLIES AND CAUSTIC ASIDES | 50 |
TARTS TAMPONS AND TYRANTS | 65 |
CERTAIN LIBERTIES HAVE BEEN TAKEN WITH CLEOPATRA | 94 |
PUNCHING YOUR WEIGHT | 111 |
SUITS AND SEQUINS | 146 |
YEAH AND I USED TO BE A HUNCHBACK | 165 |
Other editions - View all
Because I Tell a Joke or Two: Comedy, Politics and Social Difference Stephen Wagg Limited preview - 2004 |
Because I Tell a Joke or Two: Comedy, Politics and Social Difference Stephen Wagg Limited preview - 2004 |
Because I Tell a Joke Or Two: Comedy, Politics, and Social Difference Stephen Wagg Limited preview - 1998 |
Common terms and phrases
alternative comedy American argued audience Australian behaviour black comedy black comics black culture Brand Britain British cabaret Carry On films Channel Four character cinema circuit club comedians Comedy Store context Cosby discourse drag Edna ethnic example Fat Slags female comics femininity feminist Frank Randle fucking funny gender genre girls Groucho Gunston heterosexual homosexuality humour Humphries issues Jo Brand jokes kind language laugh Les Dawson lesbian live London look mainstream Marx Brothers masculine mean middle class mother narrative organised parody performers played programme queer radio Randle Randle's relationship role Roseanne satirical sense sexist sexual Sid James sitcom situation comedy social stage stand-up stereotypes style success television Terry and June theatre there's things tion tradition Victoria Wood Wagg wife Windsor Wogs woman women writers Yeah