A Philosophy of Comedy on Stage and Screen: You Have to be There

Description

As far as we know, only human beings have a sense of humour - although chimps might laugh when tickled, and dogs respond similarly in play, Seth McFarlane's fan-base is comprised exclusively of humans. Whilst animals and robots might feature as prominent characters in our favourite comic movies, shows and stand-up routines, we have no reason to suspect that their real-life brethren get the joke. Drawing on the philosophy of Martin Heidegger, Shaun May attempts to address this issue - suggesting that there is something distinctive about human beings which grounds our ability to make and comprehend jokes. Guiding the reader through a range of examples, including the films of Charlie Chaplin, the stand-up of Francesca Martinez, the TV show Family Guy and Samuel Beckett's Endgame, he demonstrates that in order to get the joke you have to 'be there'.

Shaun May is a Lecturer in Drama and Theatre at the University of Kent, UK. Prior to joining the faculty at Kent he was an AHRC Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Philosophy department of the University of Liverpool and he taught at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and the Royal College of Art, UK. He is co-convenor of the London Comedy Forum, a network of researchers with an interest in comedy and humour.

Shaun May's book is an engaging study of the philosophy of comedy, offering erudite case-studies drawn from a variety of genres. Its main reference point, namely the philosophy of Martin Heidegger, makes it accessible also to undergraduates of philosophy, besides humour scholars ... Its interdisciplinary scope brings into fruitful dialogue philosophy, on the one hand, and theatre, film and contemporary performance, on the other. * European Journal of Humour Research * A strong exploration of how the philosophical writing of Martin Heidegger and others may be interwoven with our interpretation of comic performances. The result effectively illuminates comic engagement, Heidegger's writing in particular, and ultimately, how jokes and laughter may be thought of as intrinsic to what makes us human ... May convincingly demonstrates the broad implications of Heidegger's 'Dasein' to more thoroughly unpack specific comedic moments, genre aside. This is but one of several great strengths of May's book ... This book is a welcome addition to the libraries of scholars in humor studies, performance studies, disability studies, and philosophy ... An original, thoughtful voyage that departs interestingly from the theoretical fare of late. * Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism * May is able to frame the humour of his case studies as philosophically pertinent without thereby restricting their potential to surprise and delight us. I suspect that this is accomplished as much by May's crisp writing style and by his liberal supply of direct quotations from comedy as it is by any special lucidity in Heidegger's work. * Film-Philosophy Journal * May's research area (comedy on stage and screen) would be of major interest to students and scholars of performance, film, and humour. Its interdisciplinary scope brings into fruitful dialogue philosophy, on the one hand, and theatre, film and contemporary performance, on the other. * European Journal of Humour Research *