Published October 20, 2016
MONROE, La. — As part of the Traveling Scholar Series, the Communication Program at
the University of Louisiana Monroe is excited to welcome Dr. Amanda Martinez to ULM’s
campus on Tuesday, Oct. 25 to present a talk on the relationship between race and
comedy.
The presentation will take place in Stubbs 100 at 6 p.m. Admission is free and open
to the public.
Martinez’s 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 “backstage” jokes can occupy “frontstage” space, as long as the “it’s
just a joke” 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.
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, Navigating Fine Lines: Diverse Audiences Respond to Race-Based Comedy.
For additional information, please contact Dr. Lesli Pace at 342-1165 or pace@ulm.edu.
