Punchlines: The Case for Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Humor

Leon Rappoport

ISBN 10: 0275987647 / ISBN 13: 9780275987640

Published by Praeger (UK), 2005

About this Item

Explores how humour by and about minority groups can ease as well as foster social tensions. Enhanced by illustrative jokes and comedy routines, this book displays ethnic, racial, and gender humour in both its aspects: as an instrument of prejudice and as a defence against it. Num Pages: 200 pages, black & white illustrations. BIC Classification: JFCA; JH; WH. Category: (G) General (US: Trade); (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 240 x 164 x 17. Weight in Grams: 452. . 2005. hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780275987640

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Punchlines: The Case for Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Humor
• Publisher: Praeger (UK)
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0275987647
• ISBN 13: 9780275987640
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The concept of ethnic, racial, and gender humor is as sensitive a subject today as it has ever been; yet at no time in the past have we had such a quantity of this humor circulating throughout society. We can see the power of such content manifested continually in our culture's films and stand-up comedy routines, as well as on popular TV sitcoms, where Jewish, black, Asian, Hispanic, and gay characters and topics have seemingly become essential to comic scenarios. Though such humor is often cruel, it can be a source of pride and play among minorities, women, and gays. Leon Rappoport's incisive account takes an in-depth look at ethnic, racial and gender humor. Despite the polarization that is often apparent in the debates such humor evokes, the most important melting pot in this country may be the one that we enter when we share a laugh at ourselves.

About the Author

Leon Rappoport is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Kansas State University. A prolific author of many research articles, review essays, and book chapters, he has also published books on personality, decision-making, psychohistory, and the Holocaust. His current work in humor is based on several years spent researching and teaching classes about the significance of ethnic, racial and gender humor at Kansas State University.