The Ironic State: British Comedy and the Everyday Politics of Globalization

What can comedy tell us about the politics of a nation?

In this book, James Brassett builds on his prize-winning research to demonstrate how British comedy can provide intimate and vital understandings of the everyday politics of globaliwation in Britain.

The book explores British comedy and Britain’s global politics from post-war imperial decline through to its awkward embrace of globalisation, examining a wide variety of comedic mediums, such as the popular television show The Office and the crowdfunded online satire The Daily Mash. Touching on issues such as empire, the class system and capitalism, the author demonstrates how comedy offers valuable insights on how global market life is experienced, mediated, contested and accommodated.

‘In this entertaining and incisive analysis, James Brassett historically traces British comedy through a broader global context. His creative counsel for a productive image of comedic resistance is one that has never been more urgent, or welcome, than today.’ - Brent Steele, University of Utah

‘A fascinating perspective on how British comedy is integrated into our lived experience of globalised culture, its historical sweep is brought bang up to date with 'citizen satire’ in meme culture and global platforms for our star comedians. A timely and thoughtful study on the politics of comedy.‘ - Jane Arthurs, co-author of Russell Brand: Comedy, Celebrity, Politics (Palgave 2016)