Encyclopedia of 20th-Century American Humor

From slapstick to Seinfeld , this title offers a comprehensive overview of humour and comedy in American society, with special emphasis given to the second half of the 20th century. More than 100 entries describe types of humour such as satire, wordplay, slapstick and exaggeration, and cover such topics as bloopers and trends in stand-up comedy. Legal issues related to questions of sexual harassment, freedom of speech, and the protection of intellectual property rights are discussed, and the text is enhanced with photographs and cartoons. This resource should be well suited to courses in literature, film, drama, creative writing, children’s literature and ethnic studies, as well as to the needs of the general reader.