Revel with a Cause (Hardcover)

We live in a time much like the postwar era. A time of arch political conservatism and vast social conformity. A time in which our nation's leaders question and challenge the patriotism of those who oppose their policies. But before there was Jon Stewart, Al Franken, or Bill Maher, there were Mort Sahl, Stan Freberg, and Lenny Bruce--liberal satirists who, through their wry and scabrous comedic routines, waged war against the political ironies, contradictions, and hypocrisies of their times.
"Revel with a Cause" is their story. Stephen Kercher here provides the first comprehensive look at the satiric humor that flourished in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. Focusing on an impressive range of comedy--not just standup comedians of the day but also satirical publications like "MAD" magazine, improvisational theater groups such as" "Second City, the motion picture "Dr. Strangelove," and TV shows like "That Was the Week That Was"--Kercher reminds us that the postwar era saw varieties of comic expression that were more challenging and nonconformist than we commonly remember. His history of these comedic luminaries shows that for a sizeable audience of educated, middle-class Americans who shared such liberal views, the period's satire was a crucial mode of cultural dissent. For such individuals, satire was a vehicle through which concerns over the suppression of civil liberties, Cold War foreign policies, blind social conformity, and our heated racial crisis could be productively addressed.
A vibrant and probing look at some of the most influential comedy of mid-twentieth-century America, "Revel with a Cause" belongs on the short list of essential books for anyoneinterested in the relationship between American politics and popular culture.

General

Imprint:	University of Chicago Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	September 2006
First published:	September 2006
Authors:	Stephen E Kercher
Dimensions:	234 x 163 x 41mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	572
ISBN-13:	978-0-226-43164-2
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > Performing arts > Theatre, drama > Variety shows, music hall, cabaret Books > Humanities > History > American history > General Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 Books > History > American history > General Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 Promotions
LSN:	0-226-43164-9
Barcode:	9780226431642

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!