Packing a Punch: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Humour and Power

Is it ever just a joke? Laughter can legitimise authority, unsettle hierarchies, forge collective identities, expose the limits of power. Humour can ignite debate, foster apathy, solidify ‘in’ and ‘out’ groups. It can evoke a whole host of emotional responses beyond amusement: joy, harmony, relief, but also scorn, discomfort, fear. In short, the meanings in and of humour are far from straightforward. There is power in humour and humour in power, too.

This interdisciplinary conference—timed to coincide with the exhibition Between Laughter and Tears: The Political Cartoons of Ella Baron (White Box, Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities)—aims to examine the complex relationships between humour and power across academic disciplines, historical periods, cultural contexts, and media forms.

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