Behind the Laughs - Community and Inequality in Comedy (Paperback)

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.

General

Imprint:	Stanford University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	Culture and Economic Life
Release date:	August 2017
First published:	2017
Authors:	Michael P Jeffries
Dimensions:	216 x 140mm (L x W)
Format:	Paperback - Trade / Trade
Pages:	240
ISBN-13:	978-1-5036-0290-8
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > Performing arts > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social institutions > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Equal opportunities Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Anthropology > Social & cultural anthropology > General
LSN:	1-5036-0290-7
Barcode:	9781503602908

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