The Time of Laughter: Comedy and the Media Cultures of Japan

In this talk, Dr. David Humphrey will introduce his book, The Time of Laughter: Comedy and the Media Cultures of Japan (U Mich Press, 2023), which explores how comedy and laughter have shaped media and society in Japan from the television era to the present. Touching upon highlights from the book, he will discuss how, despite changes over the past half-century, comedy and its laughter have been indelible forces in informing beliefs and debates about media in Japan. Unifying at the same time they sow discord, comedy and laughter have, since the postwar period, given voice to contradictions that have typified both media and society in Japan.

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This event is a part of YCAPS' "Getting to Know Japan Series".

Speaker:

Dr. David Humphrey is an associate professor of Japanese and Global Studies at Michigan State University, where he also serves as director of the Japanese Studies Program. He is the author of The Time of Laughter: Comedy and the Media Cultures of Japan (U Mich Press, 2023) and has published numerous articles on media and digital culture in journals including the Journal of Japanese Studies, Media, Culture & Society, and AsiaScape. Currently, he is working on a new book that examines AI and media attention in Japan.

Format: This event will be recorded and published in our web archive. Questions are encouraged during the live event.

Registration: Required Link

Moderators: Amani Kidd and Jeffery Mazziotta

Webinar Cost: Free of charge