Laughter with purpose

Article from Angelina Hurley in Comedy Studies on how First Nations Australian comedians use humour to engage, educate, and empower audiences.

Through yarning with Professor Gary Foley and First Nations comedians Isaac Drandic, Janty Blair and Leon Filewood, Angelina Hurley has demonstrated how 'Blak' humour functions as an act of cultural survival and continuity.

As Hurley writes, "Blak theatre has long been a vital space for First Nations creatives to speak back, push boundaries, and reclaim narratives through satire, storytelling, and laughter. Across generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers have used humour not just to survive, but to resist, educate, and heal. From the pioneering days of the first Aboriginal sketch comedy pilot for Australian television, Basically Black in 1973, to the voices of stand up Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander comedians who have come through the ranks of the Deadly Funny competition as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, performers continue to use the stage as a site of political disruption and cultural affirmation."

Follow the link to read the full article in Comedy Studies, Volume 16 – "Laughter with purpose: how First Nations Australian comedians use humour to engage, educate, and empower audiences."

Angelina Hurley is a Research Fellow on the Australian Research Council project Comedy Country: Australian Performance Comedy as an Agent of Change.

Contact: Angelina Hurley

Email: angelina.hurley@griffith.edu.au