Joke Is on Us

This book provides a critical assessment of the broad range of responses by political comedians to the acceleration of neoliberal policy following the 2007 recession. The volume assesses the effectiveness of comedy in its encounter with market logic and material impact in culture, politics and mass media.

Julie Webber is professor of politics and government at Illinois State University.

Chapter One: All They Need is Lulz: Racist trolls, unlaughter, and Leslie Jones Viveca Greene Chapter Two: Brexit Irony, Caricature and Neoliberalism Simon Weaver Chapter Three: What's Wrong with Slactivism? Confronting the Neoliberal Assault on Millennials Sophia A. McClennen Chapter Four: Political Humour in the face of Neoliberal Authoritarianism in "New" Turkey Secil Dagtas Chapter Five: A Silly Citizenship Take on Infotainment Satire: The Medium of Televisual Political Satire as Ludic Surveillance David Grondin and Marc-Olivier Castagner Chapter Six: The Political Economy of Comedy in Late-Night Shows Don J. Waisanen, Chapter Seven: British Comedy and the Politics of Resistance: The Liminality of Right Wing Comedy James Brassett Chapter Eight: I Want to Party with You, Cowboy: Stephen Colbert and the Aesthetic Logic of "Truthiness" After Campaign 2016 Aaron McKain and Thomas Lawson Chapter Nine: From Awkward To Dope: Black Women Comics in the Alternative Comedy Scene Jessyka Finley Chapter Ten: Savage New Media: Discursive Campaigns For/Against Political Correctness Rebecca Krefting Chapter Eleven: "An Actual Nightmare- but Pretty Good TV": Comedy/Horror in The Trump Era Diane Rubenstein Conclusion: You're Fired! Julie Webber