humor
Stand-up, Scandal, and Satire: On Iain Ellis’s ‘Humorists vs. Religion’
Is a "theology of humor" viable?
Can Yiddish Humor Topple the Tower of Babel?
Devorah Baum's The Jewish Joke reminds us of a distinct commonality.
A Cappella Punk: What’s Happening to Alternative Comedy in the US?
The DIY strategies and indie allegiances of recent alternative comedians reveal the spirit of punk to be alive and kicking beyond the music world.
Getting Lost in Thought with David Sedaris
Calypso uses a wandering style of storytelling to conjure a sense of Sedaris traveling through his own thoughts, getting lost on particular charming tangents before coming back to what he ultimately wants you to take away.
‘Space Opera’: A Galactic-scale Eurovision-style Life or Death Singing Contest
In Catherynne M. Valente's Space Opera, the Meaning of Life has a beat and, depending on your alien physiology, you might be able to dance to it.
What Happened to British Culture When Alternative Comedy Went from Posh to Punk?
If Alexei Sayle and Rik Mayall represented the Pistols/Clash in-your-face assault and battery side of British punk comedy, Ben Elton was its Elvis Costello, complete with geeky wide-rimmed glasses.
Jennifer Caloyeras Gets Unruly In Her New Short Story Collection
Intimacy with animals, babysitting plastic dolls, and running into your dad at a furry cuddle party are just a few of the details in this off-the-chain collection of stories, Unruly Creatures.
Is Dave Chappelle’s Humor Too Out of Touch for a Comeback?
In light of movements like Black Lives Matter and Me Too, Dave Chappelle's 2000 film, Killin' Them Softly may be even more relevant today. But how's his humor holding up?
Haven’t You Learned How to Take a Joke? The Comedy-on-Campus Debates
The college comedy deficit means that we are neither taught how to take a joke nor how to interpret one.
Paul Goldberg’s ‘The Château’ Is a Farcical Familial Fable for the Trump Era
The father and son relationship, the wonky, beating heart of The Château, feels so well-worn and lived-in that its volatile pushes-and-pulls contain some genuinely touching moments.
‘Radio Free Vermont’ Showcases the Political Power of Ordinary People
Bill McKibben's novel asks readers to value resistance movements that embrace humor, creativity, and civility while inspiring activism as part of our everyday lives.
