Laughter in the Long Twentieth Century
An exhibition exploring the rise of fascism and the (in)visibility of LGBTQ+ people and communities since the 1960s through the lens of cartoons
These years were marked by profound social and political change, shaping public discourse and reflecting the shift in societal values. The exhibition explores the rise of fascism and the (in)visibility of LGBTQ+ people and communities since the 1960s through the lens of cartoons, highlighting how humour acted both as a powerful tool of social control but also of resistance and defiance in the face of oppression and uncertainty.
See the physical exhibition in the Templeman Gallery on Floor 1, A Block of the Templeman Library.
This exhibition has been co-curated by Dr. Amy Matthewson and Prof. Dominic Janes with support of three student interns, Freja Dixon, Freya Francis and Isabel Walford. The project is supported by the Beaverbrook Foundation.
Dr. Amy Matthewson explores the rise of fascism through the lens of cartoons, highlighting how humour acted both as a powerful tool of social control but also of resistance and defiance in the face of oppression and uncertainty.
Prof. Dominic Janes explores the ways in which British cartoonists, notably those published in the British print media, have depicted LGBTQ people since the passing of the Sexual Offences Act 1967.
