Beyond a Joke The Limits of Humour

Humor in contemporary culture is generally celebrated as a public good, yet at times is felt to produce misunderstanding and even hatred. Now available in paperback, this collection explores the ethics and aesthetics of humor, in everyday life and in media comedy. An updated introduction looks at the implications of the Brand/Ross controversy.

SHARON LOCKYER is Lecturer in Sociology and Communications at Brunel University, UK. She has written on the ethics of humour and was the recipient of the International Society for Humor Studies Emerging Scholar Award 2004.

MICHAEL PICKERING is Professor of Media and Cultural Analysis at Loughborough University, UK. His most recent publications include History, Experience and Cultural Studies (1997), Stereotyping: The Politics of Representation (2001), Creativity, Communication and Cultural Value (2004, with Keith Negus), Blackface Minstrelsy in Britain (2008) and Research Methods for Cultural Studies (2008).

Notes on Contributors * Introduction: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Humour and Comedy--S.Lockyer& M.Pickering * Violent Racist Jokes; M.Billig * Race and Ethnicity in Popular Humour--D.Howitt &--K.Owusu-Bempah * Humour and the Conduct of Politics--J.Morreall * Parody and Decorum: Permission to Mock--J.Palmer * Breaking the Mould: Conversations with Omid Djalili and Shazia Mirza--S.Lockyer&--M.Pickering * Merry Hell: Humour Competence and Social Incompetence--K.Willis * Privacy, Embarrassment and Social Power: British Sitcom--F.Gray *
Comedies of Sexual Morality and Female Singlehood--D.Chambers * The Ambiguities of Comic Impersonation--M.Pickering &--S.Lockyer * Bibliography * Index