FYW-1213 Why Are You Laughing?

Explore the elusive questions of what is comedy and what is funny, in contexts of subversive social and political critique. Focus on understanding comedy’s shifting role in art, literature, politics, and culture, as well as its often fraught relationship with questions of race, class, and gender. Develop a sophisticated palate for comedy, studying works ranging from Aristophanes to Archer. 4 credits.