How Feminists and Other Subversive Comics Speak Truth

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Cynthia Willett, a Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Philosophy at Emory University.

Her earlier books include Interspecies Ethics, Irony in the Age of Empire: Comic Perspectives on Freedom and Democracy.

Her new book, with Julie Willett, is Uproarious: How Feminists and Other Subversive Comics Speak Truth.

Comedians, like their predecessors the court jesters, are traditionally truth-tellers in our societies. They couch harsh truths within humor to soften the blow at those in power.

But we’ve been told for years that men are the funny ones and that women just aren’t funny.

That is, of course, changing thanks to the pioneering work of feminist comedians of color like Margaret Cho and Wanda Sykes who aren’t just funny – they’re engaging in subversive social commentary.

Analyzing the changing landscape of comedy and what it means for social justice issues today is a new book titled Uproarious.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience.

Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman.

RUS airs on Free Speech TV every weekday.

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Comedy Cynthia Willett Emory University Feminism Feminists Free Speech TV Rising Up with Sonali Sonali Kolhatkar