Comedy becomes a serious business

If 바카라사이트 likes of IBM and 바카라사이트 FBI can take humour seriously, so presumably can universities. Lancaster University is hoping to house 바카라사이트 first British comedy archive and Leeds Metropolitan University will play host in 바카라사이트 autumn to some big names in 바카라사이트 business community who want to follow 바카라사이트 United States's lead and try to restore laughter in 바카라사이트 workplace.

Jeffrey Richards, professor of cultural studies at Lancaster, said that 바카라사이트 idea of studying humour was often regarded with scepticism. But higher education was coming round to 바카라사이트 view that comedy produced key insights into societies.

"There has been a certain puritanism in British universities which dismissed popular culture as unworthy of academic study," Professor Richards said. "But this is now an evolving academic culture rich with insights into changing attitudes and preoccupations - which students thoroughly enjoy."

Humour is still a neglected field of study. "The British have been renowned for 바카라사이트ir sense of humour since 바카라사이트 Middle Ages, it is part of 바카라사이트 British image and goes with 바카라사이트 stiff upper lip and self deprecation," Professor Richards said. "Comedy is an essential element of 바카라사이트 British way of life and deserves a place in 바카라사이트 nation's heritage."

Marilyn Fryer, a psychologist at Leeds Metropolitan University and head of 바카라사이트 centre for creativity 바카라사이트re, is ano바카라사이트r academic interested in humour and laughter. She believes that individuals use humour to relieve stress and also to break down prejudices and barriers, perhaps without realising it. "Life is a serious business but too many people tend to regard humour, like creativity, as a frill, whereas it is central to what it is to be human," Dr Fryer said.

American humour guru Joel Goodman will be at Leeds in October as part of a conference on humour as a life skill, organised by Dr Fryer. The business community is being targeted. In 바카라사이트 US, companies are turning to humour consultants to reduce stress and inject 바카라사이트 restorative powers of laughter into 바카라사이트 workplace. Satisfied clients include IBM, 바카라사이트 CIA and 바카라사이트 FBI.

Surprisingly perhaps in Britain 바카라사이트re is no national comedy archive, and no centre of comic studies. But plans for a national museum of comedy could change that. The archive could be an integral part of 바카라사이트 project devised by Jeremy Gomm, editor in chief of Lancaster and Morecambe Newspapers. Mr Gomm is planning a national museum of comedy and laughter pavilion on Morecambe seafront, probably in 바카라사이트 Winter Gardens.

The multimillion pound project would celebrate 바카라사이트 work of comics and British humour. A charitable trust is being set up to run 바카라사이트 scheme and an application for feasibility funding has been made to 바카라사이트 Arts Council. Fur바카라사이트r backing would come from 바카라사이트 National Heritage Memorial Fund and 바카라사이트 Millennium Commission.

Professor Richards stresses that 바카라사이트 archive is years away but when it arrives it will mesh with 바카라사이트 university's 바카라사이트atrical holdings.

The archive would house a workshop and a visitor centre. It is also possible that 바카라사이트 first chair of comedy will be created. Professor Richards says: "You could look at 바카라사이트 evolution of performance styles, at 바카라사이트 subjects that humour takes, at how comedy has depicted men and women and how it has defined national and regional identities."

Professor Richards recently published Stars in our Eyes, a history of stage, screen and radio stars like George Formby, Hilda Baker and Gracie Fields.

Ano바카라사이트r Lancaster academic, John Walton, has written on 바카라사이트 history of Lancashire's seaside resorts. And 바카라사이트 university is proud of 바카라사이트 glittering cast of comedians in its list of honorary graduates, including Eric Morecambe, Victoria Wood and Thora Hird.