Converting comedians
-
Roald Dijkstra
Abstract
The early Christian aversion for the comic and for theatre has been much discussed. The ongoing large popularity of the theatre, predominantly comical in nature, long after the establishment of Christianity as the leading religion of the Roman empire, tells a different story. Theatre and Christianity meet in a remarkable way in reports of mimes that were originally meant to mock the Christian faith. Suddenly, the protagonist converted on stage, and died as a martyr. The mime reports that have been transmitted are briefly presented and discussed in their historical context. Instances of laughter and humorous twists in the mimes and in the mime reports are analysed separately. The reports meet most of the characteristics of comical texts and could have been written by Christians who tried to reconcile Church and theatre.
Abstract
The early Christian aversion for the comic and for theatre has been much discussed. The ongoing large popularity of the theatre, predominantly comical in nature, long after the establishment of Christianity as the leading religion of the Roman empire, tells a different story. Theatre and Christianity meet in a remarkable way in reports of mimes that were originally meant to mock the Christian faith. Suddenly, the protagonist converted on stage, and died as a martyr. The mime reports that have been transmitted are briefly presented and discussed in their historical context. Instances of laughter and humorous twists in the mimes and in the mime reports are analysed separately. The reports meet most of the characteristics of comical texts and could have been written by Christians who tried to reconcile Church and theatre.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- About the contributors ix
-
Part I. Humour as tool and topic (essays)
- Humour, risk and religion 3
- Religion and humour 11
- The unquenchable laughter of the gods 17
- Is the application of modern humour theories on historical cases a joke? 23
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Part II. Christianity and Judaism in Late Antiquity
- Derisive laughter and religious identity in ancient Christianity 33
- Opponent or advocate? 47
- “This joke has gone on for long enough” 63
- The smile of the martyr 81
- Divine mockery and laughing Rabbis 93
- Converting comedians 107
- Biblical fun 127
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Part III. The Qur’an and early Arabic literature
- Humour and its ethics 145
- A laughing God, between Sunni approval and Shi’ite rejection 155
- Poetic parodies of Islamic discourses by Abū Nuwās 183
- Greek and Buddhist jokes and their corresponding versions in classical Arabic literature 207
-
Part IV. Buddhism
- How is this sutra different from my ass? 221
- Finicking monkeys 235
- “Are you really serious?” 253
-
Part V. Conclusion
- Humour in religion 273
- Index 301
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- About the contributors ix
-
Part I. Humour as tool and topic (essays)
- Humour, risk and religion 3
- Religion and humour 11
- The unquenchable laughter of the gods 17
- Is the application of modern humour theories on historical cases a joke? 23
-
Part II. Christianity and Judaism in Late Antiquity
- Derisive laughter and religious identity in ancient Christianity 33
- Opponent or advocate? 47
- “This joke has gone on for long enough” 63
- The smile of the martyr 81
- Divine mockery and laughing Rabbis 93
- Converting comedians 107
- Biblical fun 127
-
Part III. The Qur’an and early Arabic literature
- Humour and its ethics 145
- A laughing God, between Sunni approval and Shi’ite rejection 155
- Poetic parodies of Islamic discourses by Abū Nuwās 183
- Greek and Buddhist jokes and their corresponding versions in classical Arabic literature 207
-
Part IV. Buddhism
- How is this sutra different from my ass? 221
- Finicking monkeys 235
- “Are you really serious?” 253
-
Part V. Conclusion
- Humour in religion 273
- Index 301
