"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore": Humor and Trauma in Postcolonial and Black British Texts

This dissertation examines the ways in which humor and trauma function in some of the most acclaimed postcolonial and black British novels, films, and television series. Unlike other studies that focus on satire and how humor is used to establish or diminish power or defuse conflict, this study explores the ways in which authors writing in different genres and media all use humor to prevent immediate implied audience access to traumatic events. In exploring this phenomenon, this dissertation suggests some expansions of narrative theory and additional approaches to the study of trauma narratives.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Nixon, Elizabeth Amanda

Contributors dc:contributor

• Aldama, Frederick

• Literature
• postcolonial
• black british
• humor
• trauma

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1363183259

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1363183259