Description

Book Synopsis
Wit's End is an original perspective on women's use of humor as a performative strategy, seen in works of twentieth-century American literature. Zwagerman argues that women, whose direct, explicit performative speech has been traditionally denied, or not taken seriously, have often turned to humor as a means of communicating with men.

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"What's that funny sound?" she asked suddenly. It invariably made him angry when she heard a funny sound. "What funny sound?" he demanded. "You're always hearing funny sounds." She laughed briefly. "That's what you said when the bearing burned out," she reminded him.... "It sounds like a lot of safety pins being jiggled around in a tumbler." He snorted.... "Nothing gets the matter with a car that sounds like a lot of safety pins. I happen to know that." "Oh sure," she said. "You always happen to know everything." They drove on in silence.... - Excerpt from James Thurber's "A Couple of Hamburgers"

Wits End

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    A Paperback by Sean Zwagerman

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      Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
      Publication Date: 4/25/2010 12:00:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9780822960744, 978-0822960744
      ISBN10: 0822960745
      Also in:
      Gender studies: women and girls

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Wit's End is an original perspective on women's use of humor as a performative strategy, seen in works of twentieth-century American literature. Zwagerman argues that women, whose direct, explicit performative speech has been traditionally denied, or not taken seriously, have often turned to humor as a means of communicating with men.

      Trade Review
      "What's that funny sound?" she asked suddenly. It invariably made him angry when she heard a funny sound. "What funny sound?" he demanded. "You're always hearing funny sounds." She laughed briefly. "That's what you said when the bearing burned out," she reminded him.... "It sounds like a lot of safety pins being jiggled around in a tumbler." He snorted.... "Nothing gets the matter with a car that sounds like a lot of safety pins. I happen to know that." "Oh sure," she said. "You always happen to know everything." They drove on in silence.... - Excerpt from James Thurber's "A Couple of Hamburgers"

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