Publication

2021 - University of Texas Press

Language

English

Word Count

60,250 words, Guess

Page Count

241 pages

Identifiers

Classifications

  • LCCPN1992.8.C66S3 2021

Description

"The old joke is that Comedy = Tragedy + Time. Scepanski looks at that equation at a national level, examining how television comedy has dealt with various widescale tragedies, from the assassination of JFK to 9/11 to school shootings. Comedy is often the lens to talk about difficult subjects, but there has been little exploration of how it helps the country understand, process, and cope with trauma on a broad scale. Beginning with Gilbert Gottfried's controversial joke in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 that elicited a response of "too soon!," Scepanski lays out the ways that various sitcoms, comedy sketch shows, and comic news programs have handled tragedies, in ways both tasteful and tasteless"--

Subjects

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