Dates: May 12 and 13

Deciding what can be laughed at and to what extent reflects a significant political gesture. It not only determines what is laughable but also what is punishable, relevant, dangerous, or trivial. The boundaries of humor are often contested; society frequently witnesses a struggle against "the laughter of others," which often becomes an open political confrontation.

This workshop aims to encourage reflection, action, and open discussion. Participants will explore historical moments where humor has challenged reality regarding power—ranging from Diogenes of Laertius to Chaplin, and from the Sex Pistols to Family Guy. It will also examine recent instances where the action against laughter has been politicized.

Understanding the irritation caused by the laughter of others involves probing honestly into what we laugh at when it comes to others—where we feel victorious and where we feel threatened.

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First session: The laughter within us.

Exploring the non-epistemological and philosophical aspects of laughter. Humor and rationalism. High vs. low discourse. Jokes and psychoanalysis.

Second session: The laughter around us.

The political dimension of laughter. The nature of parody. Banning laughter. Legitimization, freedom of expression, and transcendent absurdity. People laughing at the divine. Humor and religion from Aristophanes to Charlie Hebdo. Humor and feminism.

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Recommended bibliography

Adanti, D. No disparen al humorista.

Barba, A. The Cannibal Laughter. Alpha Decay.

Bergson, Henry, Laughter, Alianza. 2010.

Lijtmaer, L. Offended Ones. Anagrama.

Plessner, Helmuth, Laughter and Crying. Trotta.

Sloterdijk, Peter, Critique of Cynical Reason, Siruela.

Recommended audiovisual content

Hannah Gadsby Nannette.

Dave Chapelle

Aly Wong Baby Cobra

Pichot, M. The Crazy One

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About Andrés Barba

Born in Madrid in 1975, Andrés Barba gained recognition in 2001 with Katia's Sister (finalist for the Premio Herralde de Novela), followed by several other acclaimed works, solidifying his status as an important contemporary author. He has received various literary awards and has written essays, literary biographies, and poetry. He has also translated works by notable authors and co-founded a publishing house dedicated to artist books.