Controlling Laughter: Political Humor in the Late Roman Republic (Princeton Legacy Library) by Anthony Corbeill

by Anthony Corbeill

During the last generation of the Roman Republic (ca. 100-49 B.C.E.) political rhetoric flourished. In this period of social upheaval, rhetoric played an important role in defining the relationship between the individual citizen and the Roman state. The most successful orators of the era often used the aggressive humor of political invective to persuade audiences of their opponents' inferior (and therefore their own superior) values. Although numerous scholars have studied Late Republican humor, this is the first book to examine its social and political context. Anthony Corbeill maintains that political abuse exercised real powers of persuasion over Roman audiences and he demonstrates how public humor both creates and enforces a community's norms.

Paperback

First published August 5, 1996

Reviews

[maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

after my research paper, i looked back at the two pairs of footprints in the sand, one for me and one for my savior. for much of the trek, however, there is only one set of footprints. "i thought you said you would never abandon me" i say. "yes. i love you and will never leave you. when you only saw one set of footprints, it was then that i carried you" says controlling laughter by anthony corbeill

[Chris Wolff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome list of jokes from Ancient Rome included