Table of Contents

Introduction: A Fool’s Errand

1. The Obligatory Chapter

2. My, How Clever: What Is Humor and What Humor Is

3. Joking Matters

4. Comedy Tonight

5. Killing It: Humor and Comedy Aesthetics

6. Can’t You Take a Joke? The Ethics of Ethnic Humor

7. Am I Blue? The Ethics of Dirty (and Other Morally Questionable) Jokes

8. Is That a Mic in Your Hand or Are You Just Happy to See Me? Comedy Ethics

About the Author

Steven Gimbel is Professor of Philosophy at Gettysburg College, USA. His paper "Heckler Ethics" received the Joseph Ellin Memorial Prize for best paper given at the seventh annual meeting of the Lighthearted Philosophers’ Society. He was also an amateur stand-up comedian for several years, regularly performing at comedy clubs around the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.

Reviews

"Isn’t That Clever is a provocative book that has a lot to offer comedy connoisseurs and professionals alike." - Michael Dalebout, Project Muse