About this course
Standup comedy, humorous TV shows, and ‘fake news’ broadcasts put current events through the satirical wringer, persuading us to laugh at political leaders, cultural icons, our enemies, and ourselves. Humorous discourse allows us to discuss controversial topics like race, class, gender, religion, and politics in a non-threatening manner. However, humor also has the ability to marginalize and stir violence as we witnessed after the killings related to Charlie Hebdo in Paris and the Mohammed cartoon crisis in Denmark. With a special focus on Denmark and the U.S., we explore how humor can reflect cultural norms and values, instigate change, challenge authorities, marginalize, and empower.
Syllabus
Faculty
Eszter Simor
FacultyPh.D., (Film Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK, 2020), M.A., (Film Studies, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest, Hungary, 2016), M.A., (English Language and Literature – Communication and Media Studies, (ELTE), Budapest, Hungary, 2012). Instructor of Film and Media Studies, Arizona State University, 2025–present. Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies, Sam Houston State University, 2020–2023. Teaching Assistant in Film Studies, University of Edinburgh, 2017–2019. Film Programmer, Film Fest Gent, 2024–present. Curatorial Fellow, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 2016–2019. With DIS since 2026.
Brian Russell Graham
FacultyPh.D. (English Literature, University of Glasgow). Assistant and Associate Professor, Aalborg University, 2010-2019. Part-Time Lecturer, University of Copenhagen, 2019-2025. With DIS since 2025.