Published October 20, 2016
MONROE, La. 鈥� As part of the Traveling Scholar Series, the Communication Program at
the University of Louisiana Monroe is excited to welcome Dr. Amanda Martinez to 四色AV鈥檚
campus on Tuesday, Oct. 聽25 to present a talk on the relationship between race and
comedy.
The presentation will take place聽in Stubbs 100 at 6 p.m.聽Admission is free and open
to the public.
Martinez鈥檚 talk will focus on how race and differences have fueled stand-up comedy
and permeated punchlines across mainstream media. Martinez will explore the ways comedic
contexts are among the few exceptional realms where the otherwise taboo, edgy, or
controversial 鈥渂ackstage鈥� jokes can occupy 鈥渇rontstage鈥� space, as long as the 鈥渋t鈥檚
just a joke鈥� intentions remain clear. She will discuss how comedians from diverse
backgrounds capitalize on stereotypical cultural nuances in an age of sensitivity
for politeness expectations and intense critiques of political correctness.聽
Martinez is an assistant professor of Communication Studies, Sociology, and Gender
& Sexuality Studies at Davidson College in North Carolina. Her research focuses on
mass communication and stigmatized health issues with particular interest in identity
intersections, media effects, stereotyping, and inter-group communication dynamics.
She is the co-author of one book and author of several articles on racial identification
and gender. She is currently on sabbatical and working on a book project tentatively
titled,聽Navigating Fine Lines: Diverse Audiences Respond to Race-Based Comedy.
For additional information, please聽contact Dr. Lesli Pace at 342-1165 or pace@ulm.edu.
