Author Description
Few people associate law books with humor. Yet the legal world--in particular the American legal system--is itself frequently funny. Indeed, jokes about the profession are staples of American comedy. And there is actually humor within the world of law too: both lawyers and judges occasionally strive to be funny to deal with the drudgery of their duties. Just as importantly, though, our legal system is a strong regulator of humor. It encourages some types of humor while muzzling or punishing others. In a sense, law and humor engage a two-way feedback loop: humor provides the raw material for legal regulation and legal regulation inspires humor. In Guilty Pleasures, legal scholar Laura Little provides a multi-faceted account of American law and humor, looking at constraints on humor (and humor's effect on law), humor about law, and humor in law. In addition to interspersing amusing episodes from the legal world throughout the book, the book contains 75 New Yorker cartoons about lawyers and a preface by Bob Mankoff, the cartoon editor for the New Yorker.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the complex, reciprocal relationship between the American legal system and the cultural phenomenon of humor. Laura Little, a professor of law, utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to examine how the law regulates, suppresses, and occasionally adopts humor, while simultaneously serving as a primary subject for comedic critique. The work argues that law and humor exist in a constant feedback loop, where legal structures shape comedic expression and comedic output reflects the realities of legal practice.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of legal constraints on humor, including defamation and intellectual property laws.
- Examination of humor within the courtroom and the professional lives of attorneys.
- A collection of 75 New Yorker cartoons illustrating the intersection of law and comedy.
- Historical and contemporary case studies of legal disputes involving comedic content.
Scope Limits
- The analysis is primarily restricted to the American legal system and American cultural context.
- The book does not provide a comprehensive history of global legal humor or international comparative law.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and legal scholars recognize this work as a unique contribution to the study of law and culture, noting its accessible tone despite the academic subject matter. Readers frequently highlight the inclusion of New Yorker cartoons as a successful method for illustrating the book's central arguments regarding the intersection of professional duty and satire.
Page Count:
230
Publication Date:
2018-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190625783
ISBN-13:
9780190625788
Humor
Professional Career & Trade
Law
Sociology
Humor topic politics
Legal Studies