Program Overview

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Research profile

In this interdisciplinary area we consider the production, content, reception and wider socio-political implications of comedy in a variety of formats and from a range of perspectives. We successfully bring together leading academics and writers in the fields of media and communications, sociology, psychology, theatre, drama, film and television, computing, English, creative writing and social work.

Our research examines the production, content, reception and wider socio-political implications of comedy in its variety of formats from television sketch shows to comedy thrillers. All of our research and teaching is strongly underpinned by the belief that comedy is socially, culturally, politically and economically significant at local, national and international levels. Our work clusters around a number of overlapping themes that include:

Mediated and Live Comedy

Comedy and Identity

Comedy, Taboo and Offence

Comedy, Power and Ideology

Comic Novels

We have strong links with the comedy industry and is supported by five Ambassadors:

Jo Brand– Comedian, writer, actress and Brunel Honorary Graduate.

Nitin Ganatra– Actor (e.g. Eastenders and Mumbai Calling).

Lee Mack- Comedian, writer, actor and Brunel Honorary Graduate.

Simon Minty– Co-founder and Producer of Abnormally Funny People.

Geoff Rowe– Director & Founder of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival.

Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.

Learn more about research in this area.

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Browse the work of subject-relevant research groups

DAP-Lab

Comedy Studies

Global Lives

AI Social and Digital Innovation

South Asia Studies

Contemporary Writing

Institute of Health, Medicine and Environments

Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse

Sustainable Plastics

Performance and Ephemeral Sustainabilities in Public Space

Living avatars

Institute of Communities and Society

Open data analysis in social and political science

Performance, Cultures and Politics

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