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Skidmore College

Krefting's new book examines stand-up comedy

November 18, 2014
Beck Krefting's book

Beck Krefting, assistant professor of American Studies, is the author of a new book, All Joking Asideā€”American Humor and Its Discontents, published by Johns Hopkins University Press.

According to the publisherā€™s web site, Kreftingā€™s examination of stand-up comedy ā€œestablishes a new genre of comedic production, ā€˜charged humor,ā€™ and charts its pathways from production to consumption.ā€

Stand-up comics have used charged humor ā€œto reveal social, political and economic stratifications,ā€ according to the publisher. Kreftingā€™s history of charged comedy over the past nearly 70 years highlights the work of a number of comics, including Dick Gregory, Robin Tyler, Moz Jobrani, and Hari Kondabolu.

In an interview with Tracy Wuster of the blog Humor in America, Kreftingā€”herself a comic who has done stand-up and improveā€”tries to determine ā€œWhat words would create the greatest comedic effect and in what order?ā€ With Skidmore serving as host each year to the National College Comedy Festival, Krefting said she ā€œgets to teach, mentor, and debate with students who are comedyphiles just like me.ā€

Click to read the Humor in America interview. Visit the publisherā€™s web site .

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