Laughter to be Contemplated at Bucknell's Stand-up Comedy Conference

LEWISBURG, Pa., March 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Why are you laughing? That's just one question to be contemplated at Ethics and Aesthetics of Stand-Up Comedy, a conference to be held April 5-8 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.

The conference brings together comedians and scholars of comedy from a variety of disciplines (for example, philosophy, performance studies, theatre, art history, culture studies, dance, women's & gender studies, American studies, critical race theory) to build relationships and generate new ideas surrounding the understudied art form of stand-up. Not only will seasoned comedians be performing and hosting workshops, they'll be presenting papers and participating in panel discussions. With any luck, a few scholars will try their hand at stand-up during the conference's open mic night.

From Dave Chappelle to Amy Schumer, comedians and their craft will be analyzed as scholars and comedians gather to discuss the nature of stand-up: is it pure entertainment, or thoughtful social commentary? They will scrutinize how comedians craft their jokes for audience response and understanding. And they'll examine the changing nature of satire and political comedy. New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman will deliver a keynote address entitled "The Authentic Joke" on Thursday from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

There will be a showcase of local comedians and performances by Hari Kondabolu, "Frog Night" from Good Good Comedy in Philadelphia, and Paula Poundstone. Conference chair Sheila Lintott, a scholar and a stand-up comic in her own right, said, "There's a rich local stand-up scene in Lewisburg with incredibly talented and dedicated comedians. I'm happy that, among other things, the conference will shed light on the stand-up comedy that's happening here in central PA."

Lintott added, "So many people are studying comedy, and stand-up in particular, and this is an opportunity for them to gather and exchange ideas. This conference is interdisciplinary, but also includes a mix of professionals and academics, all passionate about the art of stand-up."

The conference is sponsored by Bucknell University, the American Society for Aesthetics and the American Philosophical Association. On-site registration is available. Fees vary. See the conference website for more details: bucknell.edu/BUStandUpComCon.

SOURCE Bucknell University