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Avinoam Patt
Jewish Humor
Resources

JEWISH HUMOR: A ROUTINE IN FOUR PARTS
With Prof. Avinoam Patt, University of Connecticut

Listed below are resources for each session of the class. Resources include readings, TV clips, recordings and suggested films.

1. THE ORGINS OF MODERN JEWISH HUMOR:
From Chelm to Sholem Aleichem

Readings/Recordings/Films Related to the Talk

Readings
Sholem Aleichem
"On Account of a Hat"
 Sarah Blacher Cohen
"The Varieties of Jewish Humor",
in Jewish Wry: Essays on Jewish Humor 

Recording:
'Hershel of Ostropol'

Films:
Documentary:
Sholem Aleichem - Laughing in the Darkness (Available on iTunes)
Topol, Fiddler on the Roof  (Available on Amazon Prime)

More Films:

History of the World, Part I:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI1JJZuopig&t=5s
History of the World, Spanish Inquisition: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyQjiXSlU_w
Benign Violation Theory of Humor: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysSgG5V-R3U&feature=youtu.be 

2. JEWISH COMEDY IN AMERICA:
From the Borscht Belt to Broad Street

Readings/Recordings/Films Related to the Talk

Reading
Jarrod Tanny, “The Jewishness of Seinfeld”
from A Club of Their Own
(Studies in Contemporary Jewry, 2016)
 
  TV/Recordings
Syd Caesar, Your Show of Shows
Mel Brooks, The 2000 Year-Old Man

Films
Groucho Marx, Duck Soup  (Available on Vudu)
Woody Allen, Annie Hall  (Available on Amazon Prime)

More Films:
Excerpt from Duck Soup: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsw9jYU_rJI
Woody Allen, The Moose
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmnLRVWgnXU
Your Show of Shows, German General: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m6Czgl1acU&feature=youtu.be
2000 Year Old Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI7wDpBRqjo
Lenny Bruce
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=uD6Oi2kySSU

The 9 Best Jewish Moments from Curb Your Enthusiasm
https://medium.com/@9weeksofcurb/the-9-best-jewish-moments-from-curb-your-enthusiasm-e7d8cdfe4a4a

3. JEWISH HUMOR AS A RESPONSE TO ANTISEMITISM: Laughing Off the Trauma of History?

Readings/Recordings/Films Related to the Talk

Readings
Avinoam Patt
Laughter Through Tears:
Jewish Humor in the DP Camps
“Yad Vashem You So Fine!”

Links to skits
Museum of Boyfriend Wardrobe Atrocities
https://vimeo.com/141682826
Eretz Nehederet, Taglit
https://youtu.be/VVXJVr8OOIc
YidLife Crisis
https://youtu.be/VVXJVr8OOIc
Larry David on SNL
https://youtu.be/G0eeNijdv3I?t=236

Israeli Comedian, COVID Hotel
https://www.timesofisrael.com/listen-israeli-comic-with-covid-19-does-sick-comedy-for-captive-hotel-audience/

Films
Humor and the Holocaust documentary
The Last Laugh  Available on Amazon Prime
The Producers, Zero Mostel, Available on iTunes

4. IS ISRAELI HUMOR JEWISH?
Readings/Recordings/Films Related to the Talk