New Perspectives on Women and Comedy [Paperback]

First published in 1992, the twenty-one original essays in this volume explore the way women have used humor to break down cultural stereotypes between the genders. Examples from literature and the performing arts deal with humor and violence, humor and disability, humor and the supposition of womens shame, lesbian and ethnic humor, and particularly womens responses to mens humor. The essayists present traditional issues from new perspectives and take us from Italy in the Renaissance to todays New York comedy clubs. They may make you laugh; they may make you nervous. They will certainly make you reevaluate the importance of placing women at the center of a discussion of comedy.

Acknowledgements.  List of Contributors.  1. Making Trouble: An Introduction Regina Barreca  2. What to Do with Helen Keller Jokes: A Feminist Act Mary Klages  3. Just Kidding: Gender and Conversational Humor Mary Crawford  4. Roseanne Barr: Canned Laughter  Containing the Subject Si?n Mile  5. Belly Laughs and Naked Rage: Resisting Humor in Karen Finleys Performance Art Maria Pramaggiore  6. Sylvia Talks Back Kayann Short  7. Why Women Cartoonists are Rare, and Why Thats Important Betty Swords  8. Return the Favor Laura Kightlinger  9. The Parallel Lives of Kathy and Mo Brenda Gross  10. The Politics of Humor: An Interview with Margaret Drabble Ian Wojcik-Andrews  11. Wendy Copes Struggle with Strugnell in Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis, Nicola Thompson  12. A Duel of Wits and the Lesbian Romance Novel or Verbal Intercourse in Fictional Regency England Catri?na Rueda Esquibel&nl3^