Did you hear the one about the comedian who was canceled?
Comedians are no strangers to controversy or crossing the line. But some things do change. Humorists the world over are no longer simply denounced in grouchy op-eds. Now comedians are being hounded by criminal investigations and civil suits, or forced off the airwaves. They are menaced by vigilantes and religious fundamentalists. Some have been forced into exile, imprisoned, or even murdered. In the age of social media and global digital distribution, the audience is everyone, ensuring that criticism can be as vicious as it is unavoidable.
With a flair for storytelling, Jacques Berlinerblau explores the high stakes of the low blow in this darkly witty examination of American comedians such as Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Shane Gillis, and Sarah Silverman as well as humorists in France, Denmark, Zimbabwe, and Egypt.
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"A thought-provoking portrait of the consequences of contemporary offensive humor."
" - Kirkus Reviews
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"[Berlinerblau] delivers a thought-provoking survey of contemporary comedians who have sparked controversy. . . . a thorough report on the shifting landscape of modern comedy.”
" - Publishers Weekly
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"Berlinerblau argues that the United States still agrees--mostly--on the importance of free speech, in all its complexity and messiness...[and assesses] changing norms in an era of ideological contention and internet vitality."
" - Forward
