A Philosophy of Comedy on Stage and Screen : You Have to be There
Author(s): Shaun May
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'.
Review(s):
“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
ISBN: 9781350004511