Humor as Social Critique

Jennalee Donian is NIHSS-ISCIA post-doctoral fellow at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.Andrea Hurst is Professor of Philosophy and the NRF SARChI Chair (ISCIA) at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.

"This volume breaks ground in its contribution to humor studies, African studies, and the study of social critique. From the realm of political satire to alternative therapy, Jennalee Donian and Andrea Hurst present humor as deeply transformative, generating profound insight into ethical, cultural, and political problems, by introducing us to Africa’s complex social landscapes. Everyday life comes alive through the interesting insights, the unusual perspectives, and the myriad ways in which the powers of humor are shown by the contributors of this very readable and pleasurable collection."

• Introduction: Humor, Critique, and the African Context, Jennalee Donian (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa) and Andrea Hurst (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)Part I: Humor and Political Critique1. Deflating Populist Bubbles: From Satirical Irony to Good-Humored Resistance, Christopher Allsobrook (University of Fort Hare, South Africa)2. “Laughtivistic” Webcomics: The Virtual Carnival of Liminal Spaces, Dina Oleimy (The American University in Cairo, Egypt)3. “Guys, we are Called for a Family Meeting”: Humor, Family Metaphor, and the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Africa, Robin K. Crigler (Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study, South Africa)4. The Africanist Presence in the Double Satire of Warren Beatty’s Bulworth, Rodney Taveira (University of Sydney, Australia)Part II: Humor and Socio-Cultural Critique5. Exploring Incongruency, Superiority, and Relief in Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime, Alfred Schaffer (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) and Aletta Simpson (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)6. “Humor Midwifery” and the Power of the “HumPract” on African Social Media, Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju (University of Ilorin, Nigeria) and Ibukun Osuolale-Ajayi (University of Ilorin, Nigeria)7. Laughing at Religion: Humor as a Vehicle for a Secular Spirituality, Patrick Giddy (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)8. Weapons and Tools: Toward a Differential Analysis of Humor, Ian Buchanan (University of Wollongong, Australia)Part III: Humor and Self-Critique9. “The Wit-Machine” and the Shift from Critical Thinking to Complexity Thinking, Andrea Hurst (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa) and Jennalee Donian (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)10. The Ethical Value of Njakiri, Lawrence Ogbo Ugwuanyi (University of Abuja, Nigeria)11. How to Fail: Stepping into the Clown, Klara Van Wyk (University of Cape Town, South Africa) and Abigail Wiese (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)Conclusion: The Power of Humor, Jennalee Donian (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa)IndexAbout the Contributors