Seriously funny: a history of art and humour

Counter to the assumed seriousness of Art, our creative history is riddled with jokes, puns, satire and wit. This fascinating and amusing course by cultural theorist Ian Tucknott explores a history of artists and their jokes, from hilarious Hogarth to today’s most amusing art makers, and aims to argue that - when it comes to art - a sense of humour essential.
The course will look at how humour has played an important role in the practice of artists from early satirists like Hogarth, provocative Modern artists such as Marcel Duchamp, and contemporary tricksters such as Banksy and Maurizio Cattelan. Through the discussion and analysis of key works, and the exploration of different artist’s aims and motivations, we will come to understand how jokes can play a powerful role within creative work, providing artists with both artistic and political significance.