Keywords
stance
stand-up comedy
streamed stand-up comedy special
transtextuality
How to Cite
Abstract
This study investigates the positioning of comedians in streamed stand-up comedy specials (SSCSs). In an analysis of ten 2023 Netflix SSCSs, this research explores the multimodal meaning making in introductory sequences as well as the humorous and serious strategies employed in the SSCSs to create comedians' on-stage personas and to position them vis-à-vis societal and private themes. The study aims to uncover the principles of stance-taking and identity construction within the introductory shots and sequences, as well as the transtextual relationships that connect these specials both to each other and to wider public discourses. By contextualising these findings within theoretical frameworks around humour, identity construction, stance-taking, and transtextuality, the study provides insights into the evolving genre of SSCS and the complex interactions between comedians' performances and their socio-cultural environments.
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