Does humour belong in Fascism studies?

Activity: Academic Talks or PresentationsConference PresentationResearch

Description

This paper will examine the role that humour performs in my practice as a researcher of the extreme right. It will explore the way humour can act as a self-protective buffer between myself and research materials, as a means of remaining close to the subject but distanced. It would be wrong to call this deployment of humour a research approach or tool, rather it is a choice, a willingness on my behalf to be open to the potential of some materials having a comic or absurd aspect. Whilst there are obvious benefits from this regarding mental wellbeing, the piece will also discuss the ethical issues it can create in terms of the relationship between myself and the research subject. These issues are largely debated in acts of self-reflection, within the mind, but there can also be effects in the lived world which can have more impactful repercussions, for example, the potential desensitisation and loss of perspective from immersion in research leading to the possibility of unintended inappropriate or offensive utterances in the public sphere, or the discussion of research with those not desensitised to the subject - all of which is underpinned by the privilege I receive as a white man. Obviously this is a very sensitive area, perhaps even taboo, and it will be discussed self-critically, meaningfully, and in a spirit open to greater learning.
Period27 Jun 2024
Event titleCentre for Historical Studies Conference 2024: Humour Satire and Play in Researching and Teaching History
Event typeConference
LocationNorthampton, United KingdomShow on map

Keywords

  • Fascism
  • Emotions
  • extreme right
  • Research ethics
  • Humour