Humorinamerica
MY BLOGS
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Humor in America
http://humorinamerica.wordpress.com/
“Humor in America” (HA!) is a blog dedicated to the discussion of humor and humor studies in America. Authors retain copyright to their work as posted. *********************************************************** "The great virtue of humor is that it is philosophizing in action, a bright silver thread in the great duvet of existence. And one can easily engage in it for an hour or two every day." --Simon Critchley, On Humour
LATEST ARTICLES ( 325 )
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One Sided Scholarship, Or How We (Narrowly) Defined American Humor
This essay begins with a story about the American frontier-one that most of you may already know-and I'd like to use it to try to explain why it is that we... Read more
Posted on 11 December 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
A Bag of Jive
Humor and political correctness are antithetical. With the rise of the latter we risk losing the former. Many comedians no longer perform at college campuses... Read more
Posted on 03 December 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
Happy Birthday, Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Not You, Mark Twain.
Tracy Wuster November 30, 2015 will be celebrated as the 180 th birthday of one Mark Twain-novelist, humorist, and all around American celebrity. I, for one,... Read more
Posted on 30 November 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
I Wish I Was Wise
Scott Stantis reflected on the recent violence in Paris, France with an uncharacteristically long political cartoon on November 20, 2015. What is normally a... Read more
Posted on 24 November 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
For Those Hosting Thanksgiving . . .
In seven days the big feast will be upon us. Whether you're hosting or traveling the time crunch has likely begun. With due respect I'll keep opening remarks... Read more
Posted on 19 November 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
Magic Mindy: Kids Place Live, and the New Age of Children’s Radio Humor
"If something is really important, keep it in your underpants." -Mindy Thomas, aka Absolutely Mindy, on Kids Place Live, Sirius XM With all of the... Read more
Posted on 17 November 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
Bill Burr: A Safe Space for Standup?
Maybe I've been watching too many political debates or reading too many articles that pop up as newsworthy on my social media newsfeed (i.e. Starbucks'... Read more
Posted on 12 November 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
Press Or Pass: The Unfunny Closing of the University of Missouri Press
Tracy Wuster Update: As of October, the decision to close the Press has been reversed and Clair Willcox has been rehired. The concerted efforts of many peopl... Read more
Posted on 09 November 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
The Lost Art of the Sitcom Theme Song
In the old days of television, before on demand and remote controls, the theme song announced the next show. It was designed to catch or keep your attention.... Read more
Posted on 05 November 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
Late-Night Campaigning: Presidential Elections and Late Night Television
Since the days the Toast of the Town and the Texaco Star Theater late-night talk shows have, under the guidance of television legends like Johnny Carson, Dick... Read more
Posted on 27 October 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
The Tale of the Thirteenth Floor
With Halloween just nine days away, it's time to enjoy a little warm-up scare. The first thing along those lines that came to mind was Room for One More, the... Read more
Posted on 22 October 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
In Defense of the New Muppets Show: A Meditation on Self-Aware Comedy
Rachel Blackburn Here's the thing. I really don't like to get too political on social media or other public platforms, but my frustration with the critiques of... Read more
Posted on 14 October 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
T.S. Eliot and the Humor of Adolescence
"I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each./ I do not think that they will sing to me." These self-pitying lines from T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J.... Read more
Posted on 12 October 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
Stephen Colbert and Poetry
This week two of my friends went to see a taping of The Late Show with Colbert and came back impressed. My friend Steven Smith has interviewed Colbert and said... Read more
Posted on 24 September 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
Tricky Treats and Goofy Ghosts: A Halloween Harvest of Hilarious All Ages Graphi...
Welcome to the last night of summer and the first early smidgens of impending Autumnal Awesome! Though I previously promised a very different type of post for m... Read more
Posted on 23 September 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
The John Oliver Effect, Humor, and Thesis Statements
I wish I had coined the phrase: "The John Oliver Effect." I wish I had jumped onto the John Oliver bandwagon before this past June when I first wrote about it... Read more
Posted on 15 September 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
An Afternoon with Mairéad Byrne
An Afternoon with Mairéad Byrne Poet Mairéad Byrne came to us on a cold, windy, April Fool's Day. Her poem "Spring" perfectly illustrated her presence on... Read more
Posted on 10 September 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
The Summer of Trump: Glown, Gasbag, Monster, Anti-PC Hero, and Other Images of...
Tracy Wuster Like many observers this summer (and heading into fall), I have been fascinated by the rise (and continued buoyancy) of Donald Trump. And like... Read more
Posted on 08 September 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
“There You Go Again”: Humor in Presidential Debates
In early August, Fox News and Facebook organized the most watched primary debate ever, in Cleveland, Ohio, where 17 Republican presidential hopefuls gathered... Read more
Posted on 03 September 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY -
Trump on the Stump: Turning Pain into Poetry
Donald Trump is in the air. Donald Trump is in our hair. Donald Trump is everywhere. From the August 24th sacred sighting in Wildwood, Missouri when his face... Read more
Posted on 27 August 2015 HUMOR, SOCIETY