Politics and Psychoanalysis of Comedy

This book looks at the political aspects of comedy and how humor is shaped by unconscious social and psychological factors within a particular cultural and historical context. Updating Freud's work on jokes, Robert Samuels argues that any universal model of comedy must take into account the role played by distinct genres, which are themselves determined by particular political psychopathologies. In looking at contemporary comedy, we encounter a structure that is often seen throughout the world: in response to what is experienced as a Leftist super-ego censoring thoughts and speech and a Libertarian Right which promotes free speech as the ultimate value. Within this dynamic, comedians seeking to make their audience laugh by poking fun at sensitive and taboo subjects, intentionally and unintentionally, these humorists present an alternative to Left-wing political correctness and identity politics. Contemporary comedians then cannot help but to cater to Right-wing politics since the Right is centered on loudly rejecting the cultural dictations of the Left.

List of contents

Introduction
Libertarian Comedy: The Hidden Danger of the Joe Rogan ExperienceThe Office and the Political Humor of Centrist NarcissistsThe Hidden Conservative: Dave Chappelle and the Trap of AssimilationCurb Your LiberalismThe Limits of Left-Wing Humor: Hannah Gadsby, Comedic Journalism, and the Misunderstanding of FreudDon't Look Up: Maybe Politics Needs to Be SeriousBibliography
Index
About the Author

About the author

Robert Samuels is lecturer of writing at University of California, Santa Barbara.

Summary

This book looks at the political aspects of comedy and how unconscious social and psychological factors within a cultural and historical context shape it. Updating Freud’s work on jokes, Samuels argues that any universal model of comedy must account for the role played by distinct genres, which are determined by political psychopathologies.

Product details

• Authors: Robert Samuels
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 20.11.2023
• EAN: 9781666945744
• ISBN: 978-1-66694-574-4
• No. of pages: 192
• Series: Psychoanalytic Studies: Clinical, Social, and Cultural Contexts
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Psychoanalysis; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Political Ideologies, PSYCHOLOGY / Psychopathology / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / Libertarianism, Abnormal psychology, Psychoanalytical and Freudian psychology, Psychoanalytical & Freudian psychology, Political ideologies and movements, Psychoanalytical theory (Freudian psychology), Conservatism & right-of-centre democratic ideologies, Liberalism & centre democratic ideologies, PSYCHOLOGY / Psychotherapy / Psychoanalysis, Right-of-centre democratic ideologies and movements, Centrist democratic ideologies and movements