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What do you do?: Stand-up comedy versus the proper job

Double, Oliver (2015) What do you do?: Stand-up comedy versus the proper job. Ephemera: Theory & Politics in Organization, 15 (3). pp. 651-669. ISSN 2052-1499. E-ISSN 1473-2866. (KAR id:55434)

Abstract

Stand-up comedy is often seen as such an unusual choice of profession that it barely even qualifies as being a ‘proper job’. Because comedians are seen as existing outside the world of conventional employment, they have a unique position from which to view the everyday reality of work as most people experience it. This paper looks at a range of gags and routines from the early 1970s onwards that either reflect on the unusual nature of the job of being a comedian or cast an amused light on more conventional forms of employment. Theories about stand-up comedy and humour in the workplace will be used to explore the relationship between comedy as work and comedy about work.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled keywords: Stand-up comedy, job, employment
Subjects: N Visual Arts > NX Arts in general
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1600 Drama
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1969.C65 Comedy acts. Stand-up comedy
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > School of Arts
Depositing User: Oliver Double
Date Deposited: 16 May 2016 10:07 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 13:34 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/55434 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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