This thesis examines the ways in which laughter is entangled with cultural valuation processes in... more This thesis examines the ways in which laughter is entangled with cultural valuation processes in live stand-up comedy. This is explored through a combination of video observations of three live stand-up spaces in London, narrative interviews with comedians and focus group discussions with audience members. This thesis is concerned with how the practice of laughter relates to the social reproduction of cultural value, and how ‘value struggles’ are experienced, reproduced, and potentially challenged, through the production and consumption of stand-up comedy. Valuations and identifications based on class, gender and ethnicity are shown to be influential in the experience and understanding of laughter and stand-up comedy. This thesis analyses the mechanisms by which the cultural reproduction of value is maintained, through the lived experience of stand-up comedy and the discursive resources drawn upon by participants to understand their place in the field of comedy. Evidence is present...
In Pragmatic Humanism: On the Nature and Value of Sociological Knowledge, Marcus Morgan positions... more In Pragmatic Humanism: On the Nature and Value of Sociological Knowledge, Marcus Morgan positions sociology not as a science of society, but as a discipline of humanity. Rather than resurrect a problematic, classical conception of humanism, Morgan instead engages with past and contemporary critiques of humanist thought to position humanism as a pragmatic approach to sociology that draws on human action as a tool for progressive social change. Adam Carter heartily recommends this invigorating book to anyone interested in forging a politically engaged and humane social studies.
This article presents findings from a qualitative study carried out on how audiences of stand-up ... more This article presents findings from a qualitative study carried out on how audiences of stand-up comedy are entangled in ‘value struggles’. It focuses on a group who through classed and gendered ridicule are often drawn as valueless – women from Essex or ‘Essex girls’. The article explores how a group of women from Essex negotiate their value in the face of Essex girl–based ridicule, experienced while part of a live comedy audience in a London comedy club. The analysis reveals an ambivalence in how the group utilise and view their ‘Essex girl’ status, which challenges the view that this is a valueless identification. They oscillate between the joy of revelling in the Essex girl role and disidentification from the shame of this disreputable status. It concludes by highlighting how ridicule does not necessarily perform a disciplinary function and considers if the joy of ‘being Essex’ has any hope of escaping into everyday life.
This thesis examines the ways in which laughter is entangled with cultural valuation processes in... more This thesis examines the ways in which laughter is entangled with cultural valuation processes in live stand-up comedy. This is explored through a combination of video observations of three live stand-up spaces in London, narrative interviews with comedians and focus group discussions with audience members. This thesis is concerned with how the practice of laughter relates to the social reproduction of cultural value, and how ‘value struggles’ are experienced, reproduced, and potentially challenged, through the production and consumption of stand-up comedy. Valuations and identifications based on class, gender and ethnicity are shown to be influential in the experience and understanding of laughter and stand-up comedy. This thesis analyses the mechanisms by which the cultural reproduction of value is maintained, through the lived experience of stand-up comedy and the discursive resources drawn upon by participants to understand their place in the field of comedy. Evidence is present...
In Pragmatic Humanism: On the Nature and Value of Sociological Knowledge, Marcus Morgan positions... more In Pragmatic Humanism: On the Nature and Value of Sociological Knowledge, Marcus Morgan positions sociology not as a science of society, but as a discipline of humanity. Rather than resurrect a problematic, classical conception of humanism, Morgan instead engages with past and contemporary critiques of humanist thought to position humanism as a pragmatic approach to sociology that draws on human action as a tool for progressive social change. Adam Carter heartily recommends this invigorating book to anyone interested in forging a politically engaged and humane social studies.
This article presents findings from a qualitative study carried out on how audiences of stand-up ... more This article presents findings from a qualitative study carried out on how audiences of stand-up comedy are entangled in ‘value struggles’. It focuses on a group who through classed and gendered ridicule are often drawn as valueless – women from Essex or ‘Essex girls’. The article explores how a group of women from Essex negotiate their value in the face of Essex girl–based ridicule, experienced while part of a live comedy audience in a London comedy club. The analysis reveals an ambivalence in how the group utilise and view their ‘Essex girl’ status, which challenges the view that this is a valueless identification. They oscillate between the joy of revelling in the Essex girl role and disidentification from the shame of this disreputable status. It concludes by highlighting how ridicule does not necessarily perform a disciplinary function and considers if the joy of ‘being Essex’ has any hope of escaping into everyday life.
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