International Society for Humor Studies

07/08/2026

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A gamble by Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's populist Reform ​UK, to trigger an election for his own parliamentary seat could mean the only opponent he will face during campaigning is a man with a ‌trash can on his head, better known as Count Binface.

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

Please share far and wide! Exciting news for Humor researchers1

06/02/2026

“(Un)Just Joking? On the Global Dimensions of Right-Wing Humor"Special issue of the Journal of Right-Wing StudiesCall for Proposals

05/30/2026

05/22/2026

🗣️ Deadline extended to May 30, 2026!

Did you know that students working towards a Masters or Doctoral degree can apply for an ISHS Graduate Student Award?

The Society offers up to four graduate student awards each year through competition, which include the Don and Alleen Young Scholars Award (DANYS), the Christie Davies Award (CDA), and additional Graduate Student Awards (GSA). The DANYS and CD Awards come with a $500 stipend and the other GSAs come with a $300 stipend. Award recipients also present their work in a special plenary session at the Society’s annual conference.

If you are a current ISHS graduate student member (i.e., have paid 2026 dues) and will be presenting at the 2026 ISHS Conference in Niteroi, Brazil, this note is just a reminder that you can still apply for one of these awards. The attached document provides the application rules, which can also be found under Conference Awards on the ISHS website at:
https://humorstudies.org/ConferCenter.htm.

Please note that the student award deadline for this year’s Conference has been extended to May 30, 2026, and all application materials can be sent directly to the ISHS Executive Secretary at:

[email protected] or submitted through the Conference website at https://ishs2026.org/applications.

Student awards There are four awards available: ISHS Graduate Student Awards (GSA): to recognize outstanding scholars and promising graduate students conducting research in humor studies. The Don and Alleen Nilsen Young Scholars Award (DANYS): to inspire young scholars to prepare high quality presen...

05/18/2026

FYI

05/15/2026

"Come and join us at the NEPCA Conference in the Fall:

Comedy Studies
Current Chair: Zsofia Anna Toth, University of Szeged
[email protected]

This area concerns itself with research into Humor as well as Comedy Studies. It seeks papers that consider the multifaceted treatment of humorous content in American culture, especially but not exclusively popular culture, as well as various modes and genres of humor production past and present with the possible considerations of what the future might hold for these fields. This area also explores the possible ways how humor and comedy can generate change, point out problems in society and culture while improving the situation. It does not shy away from addressing concerning issues and troubles recently arising with limitations placed on how or what a comedian can say or do. A more general list offers additional topics but possible papers are not limited to:

• Authors, texts, and motifs from literary humor as well as classical literary comedic texts and genres
• Humor and comedy in contemporary media
• Internet and social media humor
• The politics of humor and political humor
• Comedic film genres and humor in films
• Humor in advertisements
• Comedians, past and present (and what future prospects there are)
• Gender issues in humor
• Humor and children’s/YA literature and media
• Humor in history, historical humor, histories of humor
• Theories of humor and comedy

Website:
https://www.northeastpca.org/conference

The areas:"
https://www.northeastpca.org/conference-areas

Animals and Culture The Body, Fashion, and Popular Culture Classrooms, Libraries, and the Academy Comedy Studies Comics and Graphic Novels

05/11/2026

She has suddenly become one of the world’s most successful comedians, with a hit Netflix special, an Emmy-nominated role in Hacks and another opposite Steve Carell. But many of her jokes raise hackles. Is she a genius – or an edgelord?