This is a THREE-LOT collection of books written on the (related) subjects of parody and satire with an additional focus on the range of notable writers,playwrights, movie directors, artists, cartoonists, and stand-up comedians who have contributed to the genre. The three authors cover contributions and satirical styles ranging from the past (Aristophanes, 448–380 BC, Miguel de Cervantes, 1547–1616,Laurence Sterne, 1713–1768, et al.) and throughout the Post-WW2 era (Lenny Bruce, Stanley Kubrick, Mad Magazine, Mort Sahl, et al.).
The three books are in Very Good condition and show only minor shelf wear relative to their age (the editions range from 1991 to 2013; please see our images of the actual books in this listing — the front and back cover images are actual scans, not stock images). All bindings are tight and uncracked and there are no folded, torn, or missing pages. The books will be shipped — well protected — by Insured USPS Priority Mail within three business days after purchase funds clear. We will supply a USPS tracking number as soon as the books are on their way.
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Here are the details for each of the three books in this listing:
1.Revel with a Cause: Liberal Satire in Postwar America by Stephen E. Kercher
6.25”x 9.25” hardcover with dust jacket in Very Good condition; shows minor signs of shelf wear and age (some scuffing on dust jacket back cover) / 575 Pages,includes index, black-and white photos, and illustrations / tight binding / no page folds, tears, or markings / Published 2006 by University of Chicago Press/ ISBN 0-226-43164-9
Synopsis
Before there was Jon Stewart, Al Franken, or Bill Maher, there were Mort Sahl, Stan Freberg, and Lenny Bruce - liberal satirists who, through their wry and scabrous comedic routines, waged war against the political ironies,contradictions, and hypocrisies of their times. "Revel with a Cause"is their story.
Stephen Kercher provides a comprehensive look at the satiric humor that flourished in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. Focusing on an impressive range of comedy - not just standup comedians of the day but also satirical publications like "MAD" magazine, improvisational theater groups such as Second City, the motion picture "Dr. Strangelove",and TV shows like "That Was the Week That Was" - Kercher reminds us that the postwar era saw varieties of comic expression that were more challenging and nonconformist than we commonly remember.
Satire was a vehicle through which concerns over the suppression of civil liberties,Cold War foreign policies, blind social conformity, and our heated racial crisis could be productively addressed. A vibrant and probing look at some of the most influential comedy of mid-twentieth-century America, "Revel with a Cause" belongs on the short list of essential books for anyone interested in the relationship between American politics and popular culture. (Anthony McCosham, The Journal of Popular Culture)
Reviews
"The book is almost encyclopedic in its breadth, serving as a useful overview of the many ways in which postwar satire articulated cultural criticism. . . Indispensable for understanding the role of humor in contemporary American culture." (Ethan Thompson, Journal of American History)
"Kercher's book offers an indispensable account of what it meant to be funny about unfunny things in postwar America" (Howard Brick, American Historical Review)
"The prose never becomes overwhelmed by detail and the judgements are consistently informed, balanced and judicious. An added pleasure is the reproduction of some memorable cartoons among the various illustrations. Altogether it is an impressive achievement." (John Kentleton, History)
"Kercher's work is exceptionally well researched, very readable, and covers an impressive range of examples. . . . A book that is informative, engaging, thoughtful, and,for individuals who lived through those times, nostalgic." (LeRoy Ashby,The Historian)
"Stephen Kercher's evocative survey of postwar political satire is almost encyclopedic in its range and impeccable for its clear writing and sound scholarship. Many still think of the 1950s as an era of monolithic conformity, yet this irresistible vein of black humor, from Sid Caesar to Lenny Bruce, offered a tremendous outlet for wildly inventive parody and social criticism. This book should delight those who remember the period and enlarge the understanding of those who don't." (Morris Dickstein)
2.A Theory of Parody: The Teachings of Twentieth-Century Art Forms (Reprint Edition) by Linda Hutcheon
5.75”x 8” softcover, 143 Pages, in Very Good condition / shows only some minor signs of shelf wear and age (slight scuffing on back cover) / tight binding / no page folds, tears, or markings, Published 2000 by the University of Illinois Press /ISBN 0-252-06938-2
Synopsis
Linda Hutcheon’s “A Theory of Parody: The Teachings of Twentieth-Century Art Forms”delves into the multifaceted nature of parody as a mode of expression,examining its presence in various art forms such as literature, visual art,music, film, theater, and architecture. Hutcheon argues that parody serves as a significant form of modern self-reflexivity, marking the intersection of invention and critique.
Through a detailed exploration of diverse works, she distinguishes parody from other related forms like pastiche and satire, emphasizing its ability to creatively engage with past texts and discourses. By playing ironically with multiple conventions, parody merges creative expression with critical commentary,redefining tradition in a modern context.
Hutcheon also touches upon the challenges and controversies surrounding parody,especially in the realm of copyright and ownership, highlighting its enduring relevance and complexity in contemporary culture. (Sean Miller, Ph.D.)
About the Author
Linda Hutcheon is a Canadian academic working in the fields of literary theory and criticism,opera, and Canadian studies. In 2000 she was elected the 117th President of the Modern Language Association, the third Canadian to hold this position, and the first Canadian woman. She is particularly known for her influential theories of postmodernism. (Wikipedia)
3.Parody: Ancient, Modern and Post-modern by Margaret A.Rose
5.5”x 8.5” softcover in Very Good condition, 316 Pages, Updated Reprint Edition Published 1995 by Cambridge University Press / ISBN 0-521-42924-2 / Book has only minor noticeable shelf wear / binding is tight and uncracked / no marked,folded, torn, or missing pages.
Synopsis
The definitive work on parody (both literary and artistic) and of key interest to theorists, Margaret Rose presents an analysis and history of theories and uses of parody from ancient to contemporary times and offers a new approach to the analysis and classification of modern, late-modern, and post-modern theories of the subject. In the present study she both expands and revises the introductory section of her earlier 1979 text and adds substantial new sections on modern and post-modern theories and the uses of parody and pastiche. She also discusses the work of various twentieth-century theorists and writers such as,Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Umberto Eco, and others.
Review
Avery important book. Margaret Rose's work reaches into many of the central issues for the discussion of modern literature and art. This is one of those books which moves beyond the sometimes narrow theoretical debates of the '70sand '80s to become a general text. (Malcolm Bradbury)
About the Author
Margaret A. Rose,a noted historian of theory, has held academic posts in literature and the history of ideas. Her books cover a wide range of topics, and she has been published throughout the English-speaking world.
Other than our own visual examination of the books’ condition, all of the above details were compiled from various internet sources, book reviews, and the book editions’ dust jackets, back cover texts, and their forewords and prefaces. The source texts have been edited for brevity and clarity
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