Shakespeare in Jest (Spotlight on Shakespeare)

By: Indira Ghose

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Synopsis: Shakespeare in Jest draws fascinating parallels between Shakespeare's humour and contemporary humour. Indira Ghose argues that while many of Shakespeare's jokes no longer work for us, his humour was crucial in shaping comedy in today's entertainment industry.　 The book looks at a wide variety of plays and reads them in conjunction with examples from contemporary culture, from stand-up comedy to late night shows. Ghose shows the importance of jokes, the functions of which are remarkably similar in Shakespeare’s time and ours. Shakespeare's wittiest characters are mostly women, who use wit to puncture male pretensions and to acquire cultural capital. Clowns and wise fools use humour to mock their betters, while black humour trains the spotlight on the audience, exposing our collusion in the world it skewers. In a discussion of the ethics of humour, the book uncovers striking affinities between Puritan attacks on the theatre and contemporary attacks on comedy.　 An enjoyable and accessible read, this lively book will enlighten and entertain students, researchers, and general readers interested in Shakespeare, humour, and popular culture.

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
Book Size:: 184 Pages
ISBN-13:: 9781000432633
Related ISBNs:: 9780429317507, 9780367322465, 9780367322458
Publisher:: Taylor and Francis
Date of Addition:: 09/08/21
Copyrighted By:: Indira Ghose. The right of Indira Ghose to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: Literature and Fiction, Drama, Plays and Theater, Language Arts, Humor
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.