The Rhetoric of Racist Humour

'Weaver's study contributes valuably to the understanding of racist humour, distinctly improving upon familiar previous perspectives, whether 'apologetic' or simplistically critical. The result is a sustained and interesting treatment, in which a series of creative theoretical adaptations illuminate the analysis of particular comic episodes, genres and performers.' Gregor McLennan, University of Bristol, UK 'Simon Weaver attends closely to the discursive forms in which racist humour is expressed and through this develops an insightful critique of its rhetorical power. His book considerably expands the explanatory potential of humour studies, and will become a landmark study in this field.' Michael Pickering, Loughborough University, UK 'An important text for any discussion of race and humor, The Rhetoric of Racist Humour examines the ways in which racist humour acts as racist rhetoric, has communicative impact, is persuasive, and can affect impressions of truth and ambivalence in serious, non- humorous ways. The book builds upon the fundamental premise that a discursive frame that does not follow the rules of the serious can nevertheless have a significant impact on the serious discourse of racism... Weaver’s book is an important one for the burgeoning field of humor studies...' E3W Review of Books 'Simon Weaver has written an interesting and wide-ranging book on the subject of joking about groups which have been described in racial terms... Weaver’s great strength lies in his ability to see that many uses of humour that touch on race are multi-layered and that racial images are played with in ways that are utterly inconsistent, contradictory and rapidly shifting, as if the comedian were shaking a kaleidoscope. It enables Weaver to provide a subtle analysis of the ’Liquid Racism and the Ambiguity of Ali G’, and also the acts of such outstanding British comedians as Shazia Mirza and Omid Djalili. Weaver’s work is a big advance on earlier simp