In this blog, I talk about popular culture, including films, books, television and stand up comedy. By this, I hope to clarify my positions because, as High Fidelity (1995) author, Nick Hornby, writes: “I agreed that what really matters is what you like, not what you are like… Books, records, films – these things matter. Call me shallow but it’s the f@*#’in’ truth” [emphasis mine].
In it’s current form and going forward, this blog is a discussion of the pop culture I love. I will also weigh in on stand up comedy, when the mood strikes me.
I have performed stand-up comedy with moderate success, and I am a fan of all forms of humor. I also have a Ph.D. in Communication and Rhetorical Studies, and have written a dissertation and several papers on the topic of stand up [see below], especially when comics do things that impact people’s decisions about how to be, live, act, and yes, vote.
When I talk about stand up, I hope to provide more than you might find on Wikipedia. Specifically I hope to shed light on how to make a difference in the world, both through doing stand-up and through doing pop culture critiques. To get conversations started and provide examples, I try to pick apart controversial incidents, both current and historical, trying to understand all the dimensions. I also pick apart other people’s critiques of stand-up, in both the popular and scholarly press, expand on the theories referenced, and curate and present advice to new comics. And more frequently, I just rave about different aspects of pop culture.
Agree? Comment! Disagree? Comment! Don’t care? I’ll still be here typing when you change your mind.
My Publications and Presentations:
Wilson, Nathan. “The Curious Case of Self-Parody: Rhetorical Possibilities and Pitfalls of Colbert, Silverman and Larry the Cable Guy.” Paper presented at the International Society for Humor Studies Conference (Long Beach, CA), June 2009.
Wilson, Nathan. Was That Supposed to be Funny? A Rhetorical Analysis of Politics, Problems and Contradictions in Contemporary Stand-Up Comedy. Dissertation in partial completion of the Ph.D. August, 2008.
Wilson, Nathan. “Offensive Language and Institutional Censure: The Politics, Economics and Decorum of Dick Jokes, Race and Carnival.” Paper presented at the Cultural Studies Association Conference (New York, NY), May 2008.
Wilson, Nathan. “Ironic Personas: Stand-Up Comics and Parodies of the Right.” Paper presented at the National Communication Association National Conference (Chicago, IL), November 2007.
Wilson, Nathan. “The Rhetoric of Silence: Political Uptake of Stand-Up Comedy.” Paper presented at the National Popular Culture Association and American Culture Association’s Joint Conference, Comedy and Humor Division (Boston, MA), April 2007.
Wilson, Nathan. “Serious Backlash: Negotiation of Obscene and Racist Humor.” Paper presented at the Obermann Humanities Symposium “Obscenity: An Interdisciplinary Discussion” (Iowa City, IA), March 2007.