“American Humor Periodicals, 1950-2000”
MAD (1952- ), THE REALIST (1958-2001), ZAP (1968-2014), NATIONAL LAMPOON (1970-1998), SPY (1986-1998), and THE ONION (1988- ): All these offered American humor between the end of WWII and the beginning of the new millennium (and in some cases beyond), and all began as physical media: magazines, comic books, newspapers. And each profoundly changed American culture. In this class, we’ll read the best and most influential material from these periodicals, discuss their publication histories, use various theories to understand their irreverent appeal, and chart shifts in popular humor during the period. Course work includes several short papers, a longer project at the end of the semester, and a contribution to a class humor zine.
Dr. Craig Fischer
Tuesday, 2–5 pm
Face-to-Face
Course poster for ENG 5640, Cultural Studies: American Humor Periodicals, 1950-2000, Spring 2027 with Professor Craig Fischer: a wide-eyed dog with a revolver held to its head, a famous National Lampoon cover image.
