From Aleichem to Allen: the Jewish comedian in popular culture
| Author(s) | Myers, Allison | |
| Date Accessioned | 2010-08-06T22:34:14Z | |
| Date Available | 2010-08-06T22:34:14Z | |
| Publication Date | 2010-05 | |
| Abstract | Motivated by the quest of contemporary Jewish Studies scholars to define “Jewishness,” my research explores Jewish identity through the lens of a figure in American popular culture: the Jewish Comedian. In response to critics who claim that the Jewish Comedian is removed from Judaism and true Jewish culture, I argue that the figure is essentially Jewish and has derived from a distinctly Jewish literary tradition. Tracing the persona of the Jewish comic back to its Old World origins, I compare the characteristics of the schlemiel figure in Jewish folklore and literature to the attitudes that define the modern Jewish Comedian. Finally, I explore how this Old World humor informs the work of contemporary Jewish comic performers. | en |
| Advisor | Elaine Safer | |
| Program | English | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/5523 | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Jewish comedians -- History | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Schlemiel in literature | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Jews in popular culture | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Jews -- Folklore | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Jews in literature | |
| Title | From Aleichem to Allen: the Jewish comedian in popular culture | en |
| Type | Thesis | en |