Comedy, Populism and Donald Trump

Comedy, Populism and Donald Trump

This year the Centre for Comedy Studies Research (CCSR) is working with the Magna Carta Institute (MCI) to present the Comedy, Politics and Populism seminar series. The second event takes place during UK Parliament Week 2017:

Wednesday 15th November 2017, 4.00pm-6.00pm

Moot Court, Elliott Jaques Building, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK

The Comedy, Populism and Donald Trump panel discussion will examine the roles of comedians and comic discourses in shaping responses to Trump’s election campaign and first months in office; the potential of satire to fuel, reinforce or critique the populist appeal of Trump; if political comedy on Trump makes US politics more inclusive or exclusive; if political comedy on Trump encourages engagement or disengagement with US politics; how humour and ridicule are used by Trump to attack opponents.

Confirmed speakers include: 

Andy Hamilton:  Comedian, comedy screenwriter, television director and producer. He is a familiar face on BBC comedy panel shows and was one of the comedy creators of Ballot Monkeys (Channel 4) shown in the run-up to the 2015 General Election. He was the co-creator and co-writer of Power Monkeys (Channel 4), a political comedy series broadcast in the run-up to, and immediately after, the 2016 UK EU membership referendum and also satirised the then ongoing 2016 United States Presidential election campaign. He has also written for The Guardian on Donald Trump, Brexit, fake news and fantasists.

Howard Jacobson:  Novelist, journalist and broadcaster. He is recognised for writing comic novels and has won the Man Booker Prize. He is known for his novels J and The Finkler Question. He writes for The Guardian and The Independent newspapers, and regularly appears on radio and television. He has recently written a satirical novel about Donald Trump’s presidency called Pussy: A Novel.

Sophie Quirk: Lecturer in Drama and Theatre at the University of Kent. Sophie she teaches popular and comic performance. She is the author of Why Stand-up Matters: How Comedians Manipulate and Influence (2015). The book explores the social and political influence of contemporary British stand-up comedy.

Jeffrey Karp:  Professor in the Division of Politics and History at Brunel University London. Jeffery specialises in research on public opinion, elections and political behaviour.  He has worked on eleven externally-funded projects and from 2008-2012 was the Director of the Centre for Elections, Media and Political Parties (CEMaP) at the University of Exeter.

Chaired by Justin Fisher: Head of Department of Social and Political Sciences, and Professor of Political Science, Brunel University London.

Please email Simon Weaver to reserve your place.

We are also pleased to announce that we have one £50.00 travel grant available for a low-income researcher or PhD student attending the Comedy, Populism and Donald Trump event. Please email Simon Weaver by Monday 6th November 2017 if you wish to apply.  To apply please send a short paragraph (max 250 words) explaining why you wish to attend this event.

 Other save the dates are:

Sunday 18th February 2018: ‘Is that funny?’: Comedy and Politics/Politics and Comedy – part of Leicester Comedy Festival’s Beyond a Joke Series.

Wednesday 28th March 2018: Comedy, Populism and Brexit at the Museum of Comedy.

Everyone is very welcome. We look forward to you joining us for some lively discussions!