Critical Essays on Laughter in War
War is hell but can also be funny, whether as a safety valve from pressure or catharsis after tragedy, as subversion, as efforts to build and maintain morale, or as exercises in nostalgia. Cinema early discovered the comedy inherent to conflict including the immensely successful 1920 film Alf’s Button, made just after and set during the First World War and notable as being popular despite (or because of) making comedy about the recent war. Comedy about war has since proliferated and writing and themes continue to respond to and adapt themselves to changing global and political circumstances including comedy responding to the Global War on Terror.