Performing Gender and Comedy

First Published in 1998. This lively volume explores comedy as a place where gender and sexuality through performance challenge sexist and heteronormative forces in Western culture. The contributors investigate the effects of gender sexuality sexual identity race class and nationality on humor and comedic performance. Each chapter distinct in its voice and content addresses how particular historical periods seem to affect who laughs at what why and with what consequences. This book not only spans a broad range of historical and literary periods it also engages in a critical conversation with past and present thinkers to articulate the political cultural and social effects of comedy.