Alex Symons
Biographic Data
| ID | 1175715 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Alex Symons |
| GIVEN NAMES | Alex |
| FAMILY NAME | Symons |
| SIGNATURE | SYMONS A |
| AFFILIATIONS | LIM College |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3670-4520 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 8 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 4 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 8 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Disruptors in media rituals
Mega-fortresses in the South Caucasus
Recent research on the organisation and growth of large settlements (both urban and non-urban) has prompted a reassessment of factors driving population aggregation. Systematic aerial and ground survey of the South Caucasus mega-fortress Dmanisis Gora, described here, contributes to the understanding of large fortress settlements in the South Caucasus (c. 1500-500 BC) as part of this wider debate. Substantial defensive walls and stone architectur…
Transcultural Comedy in Man Like Mobeen (2017-2023)
This article examines Guz Khan’s innovative television comedy Man Like Mobeen (2017–2023), explaining how it serves the BBC’s 2016 remit to produce socially-cohesive representations, portraying British Pakistani-Muslims. This is in sharp contrast to the predominant history of BBC comedy, which scholars suggest has played an institutional role, normalizing middle-class whiteness, and imposing a divisive “us”/“them” distinction which otherizes non-…
Sarah Silverman goes digital
Women comedians working to influence politics in the United States are presented with a new challenge in the age of Trump. While comedians are increasingly influential (Day 2011, p. 43), satire now
Podcast comedy and 'Authentic Outsiders
This article furthers the study of American comedy by examining the emerging relationship between celebrity, podcast and other new media, in the careers of Doug Stanhope, Marc Maron and Louis CK. By studying their creative work, and their celebrity images as evidenced in their press coverage, this article suggests that this new generation of ‘outsider’ comedians is challenging the power of an American television industry which largely excluded th…
The Problem of “High Culture” Comedy
This article furthers the study of film comedy by examining how perceived distinctions of “high culture” give rise to a sociological “problem” in the reputation of comedians. This article explains how Woody Allen's acclaimed film Annie Hall (1977) was perceived by critics as a transitional comedy—moving from the immediate, visual jokes seen in Allen's previous films, to more cognitive, script-based humor. Whereas many critics perceived this shift…
The prolonged celebrity of Mel Brooks
This article examines the strategies by which Mel Brooks has survived as a performer for a prolonged period of time in the competitive and unpredictable industries of film, television and other media. In contrast to the careers of many film comedians, Brooks has not manufactured an easily definable ‘star’ image as has been identified in the careers of Bob Hope, Robin Williams (King 2002 King, G. 2002. Film comedy, London: Wallflower Press. [Googl…
An Audience for Mel Brooks's the Producers
Although American film comedy has been condemned by mass culture critics as indiscriminating and simplistic, the 1968 reception of Mel Brooks's controversial movie The Producers demonstrates otherwise. Through sociological investigation, the film's period readings display the sophistication of engagement and the unique audience disposition of an American avant-garde
Sarah Silverman goes digital
Women comedians working to influence politics in the United States are presented with a new challenge in the age of Trump. While comedians are increasingly influential (Day 2011, p. 43), satire now
Podcast comedy and 'Authentic Outsiders
This article furthers the study of American comedy by examining the emerging relationship between celebrity, podcast and other new media, in the careers of Doug Stanhope, Marc Maron and Louis CK. By studying their creative work, and their celebrity images as evidenced in their press coverage, this article suggests that this new generation of ‘outsider’ comedians is challenging the power of an American television industry which largely excluded th…
The prolonged celebrity of Mel Brooks
This article examines the strategies by which Mel Brooks has survived as a performer for a prolonged period of time in the competitive and unpredictable industries of film, television and other media. In contrast to the careers of many film comedians, Brooks has not manufactured an easily definable ‘star’ image as has been identified in the careers of Bob Hope, Robin Williams (King 2002 King, G. 2002. Film comedy, London: Wallflower Press. [Googl…
An Audience for Mel Brooks's the Producers
Although American film comedy has been condemned by mass culture critics as indiscriminating and simplistic, the 1968 reception of Mel Brooks's controversial movie The Producers demonstrates otherwise. Through sociological investigation, the film's period readings display the sophistication of engagement and the unique audience disposition of an American avant-garde
An Audience for Mel Brooks's the Producers
Although American film comedy has been condemned by mass culture critics as indiscriminating and simplistic, the 1968 reception of Mel Brooks's controversial movie The Producers demonstrates otherwise. Through sociological investigation, the film's period readings display the sophistication of engagement and the unique audience disposition of an American avant-garde
The prolonged celebrity of Mel Brooks
This article examines the strategies by which Mel Brooks has survived as a performer for a prolonged period of time in the competitive and unpredictable industries of film, television and other media. In contrast to the careers of many film comedians, Brooks has not manufactured an easily definable ‘star’ image as has been identified in the careers of Bob Hope, Robin Williams (King 2002 King, G. 2002. Film comedy, London: Wallflower Press. [Googl…
The Problem of “High Culture” Comedy
This article furthers the study of film comedy by examining how perceived distinctions of “high culture” give rise to a sociological “problem” in the reputation of comedians. This article explains how Woody Allen's acclaimed film Annie Hall (1977) was perceived by critics as a transitional comedy—moving from the immediate, visual jokes seen in Allen's previous films, to more cognitive, script-based humor. Whereas many critics perceived this shift…
Podcast comedy and 'Authentic Outsiders
This article furthers the study of American comedy by examining the emerging relationship between celebrity, podcast and other new media, in the careers of Doug Stanhope, Marc Maron and Louis CK. By studying their creative work, and their celebrity images as evidenced in their press coverage, this article suggests that this new generation of ‘outsider’ comedians is challenging the power of an American television industry which largely excluded th…
Sarah Silverman goes digital
Women comedians working to influence politics in the United States are presented with a new challenge in the age of Trump. While comedians are increasingly influential (Day 2011, p. 43), satire now
Transcultural Comedy in Man Like Mobeen (2017-2023)
This article examines Guz Khan’s innovative television comedy Man Like Mobeen (2017–2023), explaining how it serves the BBC’s 2016 remit to produce socially-cohesive representations, portraying British Pakistani-Muslims. This is in sharp contrast to the predominant history of BBC comedy, which scholars suggest has played an institutional role, normalizing middle-class whiteness, and imposing a divisive “us”/“them” distinction which otherizes non-…
Disruptors in media rituals
Mega-fortresses in the South Caucasus
Recent research on the organisation and growth of large settlements (both urban and non-urban) has prompted a reassessment of factors driving population aggregation. Systematic aerial and ground survey of the South Caucasus mega-fortress Dmanisis Gora, described here, contributes to the understanding of large fortress settlements in the South Caucasus (c. 1500-500 BC) as part of this wider debate. Substantial defensive walls and stone architectur…
Art (7 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Art history (5 works) · Cinema and Media Studies (5 works) · Comedy (5 works) · Media studies (5 works) · Visual arts (4 works) · Aesthetics (3 works) · Gender, Feminism, and Media (3 works) · Literature (3 works)