Presents a new theory of humour as the cultural expression of our (neo)liberal moment
Revisits existing humour texts in order to rethink both the political limitations and possibilities of humour as a political mode in the twenty-first century
Brings together concerns of form and aesthetics with questions of power in a manner that not only reassesses the cultural work of humour, but also articulates a new account of the political possibilities of popular aesthetics more broadly

Autorentext

Nicholas Holm is a lecturer in Media Studies at Massey University, New Zealand. He has written widely on the politics and aesthetics of popular culture, in particular contemporary humour. He is author of Advertising and Society: A Critical Introduction (2016).

Inhalt

1. Introduction: Living in Comic Times.- 2. Dissent in Jest: Humour in the Liberal Moment.- 3. Telling Jokes to Power: The (A)Political Work of Humour.- 4. Humour without Anaesthetic: The Discomfort of Reality Comedy.- 5. Humour without Pity: The Scandal of Provocative Humour.- 6. Humour without Reason: The Nonsense of Absurd Humour.- 7. All That is Solid Collapses into Giggles: Examining the Political Aesthetics of Contemporary Humour.- 8. Conclusion: The Last Laugh.