In on the Joke.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wilk, Thomas.

Contributor:

Gimbel, Steven.

Series:

De Gruyter Studies in Philosophy of Humor Series

De Gruyter Studies in Philosophy of Humor Series ; v.4

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Wit and humor--Moral and ethical aspects.

Wit and humor.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (154 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berlin/Boston : Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2024.

Summary:

Who is morally permitted to tell jokes about Jews? Poles? Women? Only those in the group? Only those who would be punching up? Anyone, since they are just jokes? All of the standard approaches are too broad or too narrow. In on the Joke provides a more sophisticated approach according to which each person possesses "joke capital" that can serve as "comic insurance" covering certain jokes in certain contexts. When Bob tells a joke about Jews, we can never know exactly what Bob is intending since we cannot see inside Bob's mind. But we could reasonably infer, if we knew Bob himself was Jewish, if he worked tirelessly for Jewish causes, or was a card-carrying Neo-Nazi. Each would affect his joke capital, and, in certain circumstances, we would have a moral standing to demand to see his ledger to see how much joke capital he had with respect to Jews. The permissibility of that joke depends upon four factors: the joke, the teller of the joke, the audience, and the setting. The view developed in In on the Joke is the only view that clearly explains how each of these components work together in an integrated, effective ethic of humor.

Contents:

Intro

Acknowledgments

Contents

Introduction. The Need for a Better Account of Joke Ethics

Chapter 1: Das Capital: Joke Capital and Where to Get It

Chapter 2: You Know Me Better Than That: Joking with Friends

Chapter 3: We Hardly Knew Ye: Joking with Strangers

Chapter 4: From Open Mics to Open Minds: Joking on Stage

Chapter 5: Hey Boss, That's Pretty Funny: Joking with Power

Chapter 6: Putting the "Twit" in Twitter: Virtual Jokes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Other Format:

Print version: Wilk, Thomas In on the Joke: the Ethics of Humor and Comedy

ISBN:

9783110759853

3110759853

OCLC:

1417758476