Comedy's Phenomenology
Briefly

The article explores the complex relationship between philosophy, comedy, and politics, emphasizing comedy's potential for social and revolutionary change. The author suggests a novel approach to understanding comedy, inspired by Andrew Stott's view that comedy is elusive and often misunderstood. By proposing a 'Copernican turn,' the author reframes comedy as a subjective experience—an attunement to the world—rather than a decontextualized object. Alenka Zupančič's insights on the relationship between comedy and spirit further enrich this exploration, suggesting that comedy has a tangible materialism that reshapes our understanding of social dynamics.
The challenge lies in attempting to define comedy, which Andrew Stott describes as 'a notoriously elusive quantity' that evades critical scrutiny the moment it's examined.
I propose a 'Copernican turn' in the understanding of comedy, viewing it not as an object to be known but as a mode of being-in-the-world.
Alenka Zupančič highlights that the comic mode connects with spirit, as shown in various languages through terms that relate to wit and mental capacity.
Comedy’s materialism demonstrates how the comic engages with and reshapes our world, emphasizing the transformative power it can hold in social and political spheres.
Read at Apaonline
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