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In-Yer-Face: A Study of Unsettling British TV Comedy, Critical Discomfort and Public Offence

Lönroth, Linn LU (2013) FIVK01 20122
Film Studies
Abstract
In this essay I explore contemporary British TV comedy that unsettles and offends its audience by pushing humour to its very outer limits. Attempts to breach decorum and provoke the reader/audience is not a new phenomenon, and by looking at the Modernist rejection of bourgeois values I try to contextualise this fascination with transgression and provocation.

The British writer and director Chris Morris (The Day Today, Brass Eye, Jam, Four Lions) has continously pushed the limits of humour in his many TV-shows, and has consequently caused extreme outrage and offence in Britain.
To understand where this offence comes from, and why a humorous mode of expression is unacceptable when discussing serious and sensitive subject matters, I trace... (More)
In this essay I explore contemporary British TV comedy that unsettles and offends its audience by pushing humour to its very outer limits. Attempts to breach decorum and provoke the reader/audience is not a new phenomenon, and by looking at the Modernist rejection of bourgeois values I try to contextualise this fascination with transgression and provocation.

The British writer and director Chris Morris (The Day Today, Brass Eye, Jam, Four Lions) has continously pushed the limits of humour in his many TV-shows, and has consequently caused extreme outrage and offence in Britain.
To understand where this offence comes from, and why a humorous mode of expression is unacceptable when discussing serious and sensitive subject matters, I trace back the historical dismissal of comedy in Western academia.

The rediscovery of Mikhail Bakthin’s theories of Medieval carnivals will be discussed so as to re-evaluate comedy and view it in new and challenging ways. (Less)
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author
Lönroth, Linn LU
supervisor
organization
course
FIVK01 20122
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Chris Morris, The League of Gentlemen, Offence, Comedy, Bakhtin, Offensive comedy, Brass Eye, The Day Today, Jam, Derek, Ricky Gervais, shock, taboo, humour, dark humour, dark comedy, André Breton, British humour, British TV, transgression, provocation, laughter, Armando Iannucci, BBC, Channel 4, sick humour, tastless comedy
language
English
id
3405753
date added to LUP
2013-01-24 10:01:38
date last changed
2013-01-24 10:01:38
@misc{3405753,
  abstract     = {{In this essay I explore contemporary British TV comedy that unsettles and offends its audience by pushing humour to its very outer limits. Attempts to breach decorum and provoke the reader/audience is not a new phenomenon, and by looking at the Modernist rejection of bourgeois values I try to contextualise this fascination with transgression and provocation.

The British writer and director Chris Morris (The Day Today, Brass Eye, Jam, Four Lions) has continously pushed the limits of humour in his many TV-shows, and has consequently caused extreme outrage and offence in Britain.
To understand where this offence comes from, and why a humorous mode of expression is unacceptable when discussing serious and sensitive subject matters, I trace back the historical dismissal of comedy in Western academia.

The rediscovery of Mikhail Bakthin’s theories of Medieval carnivals will be discussed so as to re-evaluate comedy and view it in new and challenging ways.}},
  author       = {{Lönroth, Linn}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{In-Yer-Face: A Study of Unsettling British TV Comedy, Critical Discomfort and Public Offence}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}