Subversive Laughter: The Liberating Power of Comedy

by Ron Jenkins

From Charlie Chaplin's parody of the great dictator to Richard Pryor's demysticism of racism, the funniest, noblest comedy has always been rooted in hostility to oppression. Now Ron Jenkins shows how comics around the world use their art to combat political and social tyranny in everyday life.

220 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Kbg503]

Deeply moved even while reading the introduction because he got to observe and even share the stage with people who understood the powers of humor. If a person is laughing, something has touched them, and maybe in this disarmed state, they will think about the controversies that swirl around them and possibly come up with ideas on change. Stories are from around the world. It's great to know the history of these protests, performances, and festivals.

[John G.]

One of the very best, if not THE best book about subversive comedy I have ever read. The author is a professional clown and college teacher, has a Masters of Buffoonery degree from Ringling Brother Clown College, started off wanting to be a child psychologist but dropped out of med school to become a clown after he saw that medication didn't work but laughter did. Ok, this guy has some creed in my book. The last chapter on American comedy resonates very deeply with me, I've been doing stand-up comedy for almost three years and haven't seen anyone else nail it the way he does. American comedy has become detached, is a commodity and has been neutered as to not offend the masses nor the censors. He writes about basically clowns, in Bali, Lithuania, South Africa, Japan, Italy and America, but don't let throw you off, he's talking about the rebellious nature of satiric comedy and it's challenge to conventional thinking and accepted norms. This is very deep and powerful writing, I would even call it a sacred book of the power of comedy, comedy that is defiant and is aligned with freedom and liberation and to be used as a weapon against the forces that lead us to death and crush our spirit! It's almost like this book is a secret weapon itself in the battle against tyranny. Bravo!