Debatable Humor

Download or read book Debatable Humor written by Patrick A. Stewart and published by Lexington Books. This book was released on 2012-03-15 with total page 147 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Debatable Humor represents the first systematic foray into understanding the use of humor by politicians on the campaign trail. Using content analysis of primary debates for both Republican and Democratic parties during the 2008 presidential election, Patrick A. Stewart considers not just how humor was used, who used it, and how successful these attempts at humor were, but he also gives readers insight regarding why humor and the laughter that results is an important part of politics. Not only can humor reveal a candidate’s intelligence, values, personality, and his/her connection with the audience, it also reveals the underlying values of egalitarian political systems.