FYSP 036 - Laughter in Literature and Politics From Antiquity to the Renaissance (and Today)

FC ARHU WINT

4 credits
This seminar introduces the roles of laughter, invective, and satire in the ancient world, the Renaissance, and contemporary society, alongside theories about the function of humor in these cultures. We will consider the social function of comedy and ridicule in certain great works of comic literature (including texts by Aristophanes, Rabelais and Shakespeare) and analyze comedy’s continuing focus on such topics as politics, the human body, and group identity. Among the questions we will ask: Is comedy serious? How does it affect our interaction with others? What responsibilities and liberties come with comedy and joke-making? What role does comedy play in society?