Behind the Laughs : Community and Inequality in Comedy Hardback
by Michael P. Jeffries
Part of the Culture and Economic Life series
Hardback
Description
Comedy is a brutal business. When comedians define success, they don't talk about money-they talk about not quitting.
They work in a business where even big names work for free, and the inequalities of race, class, and gender create real barriers.
But they also work in a business where people still believe that hard work and talent lead to the big time.
How do people working in comedy sustain these contradictions and keep laughing?In Behind the Laughs, Michael P.
Jeffries brings readers into the world of comedy to reveal its dark corners and share its buoyant lifeblood.
He draws on conversations with comedians, as well as club owners, bookers, and managers, to show the extraordinary social connections professional humor demands.
Not only do comedians have to read their audience night after night, but they must also create lasting bonds across the profession to get gigs in the first place.
Comedy is not a meritocracy, and its rewards are not often fame and fortune.
Only performers who know the rules of their community are able to make it a career.
Information
-
Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks
- Format:Hardback
- Pages:240 pages
- Publisher:Stanford University Press
- Publication Date:08/08/2017
- Category:
- ISBN:9780804798082
Other Formats
- Paperback / softback from £19.09
Information
-
Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks
- Format:Hardback
- Pages:240 pages
- Publisher:Stanford University Press
- Publication Date:08/08/2017
- Category:
- ISBN:9780804798082
