Dating back to Aristotle’s earliest treatises on theater and literature in the third century BCE, comedy is one of the oldest and most formative artistic genres. In comedy’s earliest form, comic poets took to the ancient Greek stage to perform political satires aimed at poking fun at conflicts between peoples. This use laid the groundwork for humor's adoption as a tool to discuss and debate topics that otherwise might be too uncomfortable or taboo in society.
Over the centuries since, comedy has flourished across the spectrum of art, design, and cultural pursuits while still retaining its use of absurdity, exaggeration, and conflict to question societies. Exploring new developments in the use of comedy, the Walker Reader series No Joke: Humor as Resistance gathers a collection of interviews, essays, and reflections by cultural practitioners and artists to examine comedy as a tool for social critic and change. Through this, the series asks,” How have new developments in technology changed humor’s role in society? Can comedy be used to push back against social disparities and hate? I can haz cheezburger?”
Not Just the Best-Looking Man in Comedy: Fancy Ray on Comedy’s Radical Love
Local legend of Minneapolis comedy, Fancy Ray McCloney discusses making positive change in his hometown, running for governor with his mother, and the radical secret behind his unique brand of comedic showmanship—love.
Keep That Ron and Jeff: The Editors of UNHhhh on the Radical Transparency of Comedy
The editors behind UNHhhh and Why R Humans? discuss their collaboration, the evolution of editing, and the potential that comedy has for bringing disparate peoples together
