Humor is a political weapon. Political humor can, among other things, divert criticism, conceal truth, attack opponents and build camaraderie. This roundtable includes of comedians, politicians and academics who will consider the current implications of the funny side of politics. This timely discussion will address the November 8th election season and will focus specifically on rhetorical humor, late night political comedy, comedy in opinion formation and presidential jokes.
About the presentersJulia Richmond
Julia Richmond is a Ph.D. candidate in Communication, Culture & Media at Drexel University. She is writing a dissertation on political communication and comedy.
Rachel R. Reynolds
Rachel teaches in the Graduate Program in Communication, Culture & Media at Drexel University. (http://drexel.edu/coas/academics/gra...)
She does cultural studies work on African (Nigeria/Cameroon) national media and arts, as well as the representation of Africa and Africans in media worldwide. She also looks at immigrant media in the United States and especially immigrant youth and their influences within American culture. Her most recent project, however, investigates how popular and news media portrays Violence Against Women.
Joseph Novick
Joey’s been a political comedian, camp-counselor, editorial-director, attorney, busboy, professional speaker, child-actor and elected-official. But not necessarily in that order.
As an improv actor, he’s appeared with Robin Williams at the Comic Strip, and studied with famed ‘Second City’ improvisation director, Del Close.
He’s appeared at Catch A Rising Star, Comedy Zone, Dangerfield’s and scores of comedy venues across the country. He’s opened for Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, Chris Rock, Robert Klein and Rosie O’Donnell.
Melinda Maureen Lewis
Melinda Maureen Lewis earned her doctorate in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. She is currently a Visiting Fellow for Drexel University’s Great Works Symposium. Her dissertation “ ‘That’s What She Said:’ Politics, Transgression, and Women’s Humor in Contemporary American Television” examines the relationship between gender, comedy, and ideology in constructing sitcoms.