Behind the Laughs: Community and Inequality in Comedy Contributor(s): Jeffries, Michael P. (Author) |
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ISBN: 1503602907 ISBN-13: 9781503602908 Publisher: Stanford University Press OUR PRICE: $24.70 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: August 2017 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Performing Arts | Comedy - Social Science | Sociology - General - Social Science | Popular Culture |
Dewey: 792.760 |
LCCN: 2017008538 |
Series: Culture and Economic Life |
Physical Information: 0.55" H x 5.5" W x 8.5" (0.68 lbs) 240 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: Comedy is a brutal business. When comedians define success, they don't talk about money-they talk about not quitting. They work in a business where even big names work for free, and the inequalities of race, class, and gender create real barriers. But they also work in a business where people still believe that hard work and talent lead to the big time. How do people working in comedy sustain these contradictions and keep laughing? In Behind the Laughs, Michael P. Jeffries brings readers into the world of comedy to reveal its dark corners and share its buoyant lifeblood. He draws on conversations with comedians, as well as club owners, bookers, and managers, to show the extraordinary social connections professional humor demands. Not only do comedians have to read their audience night after night, but they must also create lasting bonds across the profession to get gigs in the first place. Comedy is not a meritocracy, and its rewards are not often fame and fortune. Only performers who know the rules of their community are able to make it a career. |