A philosophy of comedy on stage and screen : you have to be there / Shaun May.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

May, Shaun, author.

Series:

Methuen / Drama

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Comedy films--Philosophy.

Comedy films.

Comedy sketches--Philosophy.

Comedy sketches.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (225 p.)

Place of Publication:

London, England : Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2016.

Summary:

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'.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed November 11, 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781472580450

1472580451

9781472580467

147258046X