A Comedian and an Activist Walk into a Bar : The Serious Role of Comedy in Social Justice Paperback / softback

by Caty Borum Chattoo, Lauren Feldman

Part of the Communication for Social Justice Activism series

Paperback / softback

Out of stock

Description

"AÂ comprehensive and insightful examination of the ways comedy can help shape social justice movements."â€“â€“Hasan Minhaj, Comedian and Host of the Netflix series Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj Comedy is a powerful contemporary source of influence and information.

In the still-evolving digital era, the opportunity to consume and share comedy has never been as available. And yet, despite its vast cultural imprint, comedy is a little-understood vehicle for serious public engagement in urgent social justice issues â€“ even though humor offers frames of hope and optimism that can encourage participation in social problems.

Moreover, in the midst of a merger of entertainment and news in the contemporary information ecology, and a decline in perceptions of trust in government and traditional media institutions, comedy may be a unique force for change in pressing social justice challenges. Comedians who say something serious about the world while they make us laugh are capable of mobilizing the masses, focusing a critical lens on injustices, andÂ injectingÂ hope and optimism into seemingly hopeless problems.

By combiningÂ communication andÂ social justice frameworks with contemporary comedyÂ examples, authors Caty Borum Chattoo and Lauren Feldman show us how comedyÂ can help to serve as a vehicle of change. Through rich case studies, audience research, and interviews with comedians and social justice leaders and strategists,Â A Comedian and an Activist Walk Into a Bar:Â The SeriousÂ Role of Comedy in Social JusticeÂ explains how comedy â€“ both in the entertainment marketplace and as cultural strategy â€“ can engage audiences with issues such as global poverty, climate change, immigration, and sexual assault, and how activists work withÂ comedy to reach and empower publics in the networked, participatory digital media age.