1 May 2019, 1-6pm, Aphra Theatre, University of Kent
Comedy and Mental Health: Future Directions is organized by Dr Dieter Declercq, with the support of The “Theatre and Performance Research Cluster” and the “Identities, Politics and the Arts Research Cluster” in the School of Arts at the University of Kent.
At this event, eight speakers from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds deliver short presentations on what they consider the most pressing questions and challenges for future research on mental health and comedy, especially stand-up comedy. The event is designed to stimulate further research into comedy and mental health by identify new research topics, exchanging methodological strategies and explore interdisciplinary and collaborative research.
Speakers and talks:
- Dr Dieter Declercq: “Comedy, Humour and Mental Health. An Attempted Overview and Some New Directions.”
- Dr Sharon Lockyer: “Notes on Future Research Directions in Stand-up Comedy and Mental Health.”
- Dr Shaun May: “Taking of the Mask and Laughing: Autistic Humour, Passing and Mental Health.”
- Dr Nicola Streeten: “When Is It OK to Laugh at Comics and Cartoons About Mental Health Issues?”
- Prof Mary Luckhurst: “Women Stand-Ups, Self-Denigrating Comedy and Mental Wellbeing.”
- Cait Hogan: “Working Through Trauma in Dark Comedy without Self-Degradation.”
- Lynne Parker: “Has the Growth of Stand-Up Comedy Contributed to Greater Awareness of Mental Health Issues?”
- Dr Matt Hargrave: “The Use of Comic Persona in Stand-Up Comedy and Mental Health.”