Instructor: Alfie Bown, PhD

Format: Live and Online (recorded for those who can not make the live seminar time).

Description:

For the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud, laughter was a mechanism of relief – something that could allow society to unite momentarily in a burst of joy that broke through oppressive social codes. For the Russian Marxist Mikhail Bakhtin, laughter was a democratic unity that brought down kings and emperors – something that could unite us even across genders, races, sexualities and classes. Laughter belonged to the masses – at least until the 20th Century. Today, from Dave Chappelle and a slap at the Oscars to the trans controversy around Ricky Gervais and the racist jokes of Slavoj Zizek – laughter is not a moment of solidarity but a moment of division. Comedy has been cancelled.

The ‘father of Russian socialism’ Alexander Herzen wrote that “it would be extremely interesting to write a history of laughter”. This course is an attempt to write and discuss a history of laughter in relation to the movement of 20th century politics, the closure of discourse and the straightening out of solidarity into identity. Is laughter still socialist? Can it be again?

Schedule: Saturdays and Sundays

December 3, 4, 10, 11 @5pm London time (12pm NY time)

Desired Learning Outcomes:

To gain critical writing, oral, and analytical skills.