Laughter in Occupied Palestine ─ Comedy and Identity in Art and Film

Although the political situation in Palestine is more serious than ever, contemporary Palestinian art and film are, paradoxically, becoming more humorous in their responses. Laughter in Occupied Palestine looks deeply into this trend, and is the first book to provide an overview of Palestinian art and film, showing the ways in which both art forms have developed in reaction to critical moments in Palestinian history over the last century. Chrisoula Lionis analyzes both the impetus behind this shift toward humour and its consequences, arguing that it has flourished amid political uncertainty and the decline in nationalist hope. Revealing the crucial role of jokes in responding to the failure of the peace process and ongoing occupation, she unearths the potential of laughter to facilitate understanding and empathy in a time of conflict and division.

Chrisoula Lionis is a Researcher and Curator at the National Institute for Experimental Arts at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. She organised the first exhibition of contemporary Palestinian art in Australia, Beyond the Last Sky (2012) at the Australian Centre for Photography, and belongs to the curatorial team that programmes the annual Australian Palestinian Film Festival.