The Myth that Won't Die: A Brief History of "Women Aren't Funny"

As soon as the concept of "a sense of humor" entered the cultural conscious, women have been accused of not having one. Part lecture, part discussion, this workshop will briefly trace the (frustrating) history of the "women aren't funny" myth and its foundations in popular media and the cultural conscious. From silent film and vaudeville to late night shows and social media, we'll look at the relationship between popular media, gender, and social power and how funny folks that aren't straight, white men have fought to take up space at the mic.

Our presenter, Dr. Stephanie Brown, is an Assistant Professor of Media and Communication at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland where she teaches classes on popular media, media production, and media history. She writes about the intersection of gender, embodiment, and performance in popular media and is working on a book about gendered labor, authenticity, and local comedy.

After…