12 h. ago ‘People laughing in the galleries’: finding humor in photography

At the Phoenix Arts Museum, a new exhibition displays different approaches to comedy within photographyHumor stands in a strange relationship to the art world. Often ranked as a lesser aspiration for the work of a true artist, when humor does find its way into the graphic arts, it’s as more of a condiment than the main dish.How refreshing then to see the Phoenix Art Museum’s substantial new exhibition, Funny Business, which boldly and decisively leaps into the realm of comedic photography. Showcasing humor from a wealth of angles, including slapstick, whimsical, acid, surreal, ironic, parody and so many more, the show offers ample opportunity to consider just what purpose laughter serves – and to enjoy a hearty laugh or two on a summer’s day. Continue reading...

Culture

5 d. ago Scots Labour MPs hit out at ‘threats’ being made to 'strong arm' them into supporting welfare cuts

EXCLUSIVE: MPs told the Record government figures claiming rebels could spark a general election was "laughable" and was driving people to block the bill.

Events

2 w. ago He forced his way through traffic and nearly knocked people over but laughed when shown CCTV

James Osmond drove dangerously in three separate police pursuits in just two weeks but found video of his offending shown to him by police funny

Culture

2 w. ago 'My voice annoys thousands of people every day, that makes me laugh'

Alison Parsons was paid to record 26 phrases that regularly wind people up

Politics

3 w. ago Still Game star first made people laugh with his impersonations at school in Lanarkshire

Gavin Mitchell is best known for his role as Boabby the Barman.

Politics

3 w. ago Rebel Wilson: ‘I always wanted to be like Judi Dench. But people like laughing at me’

The actor on plans for a new Pitch Perfect, pretending to lick Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi’s ‘fun grandpa vibe’What’s been the most fun you’ve had on set? FrNthOldPitch Perfect, because it felt like theatre camp. We came together in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was like college: hanging out with my friends, having fun, not really acting. For four weeks we were in boot camp, where we’d dance and do conditioning in the mornings – so sit-ups, stretching and learning the choreography. In the afternoons, we’d learn our 10-part harmonies and go into the recording studio. Sometimes we were really dorky and said: on Friday we’re all going to wear the same colour T-shirts, just to be like a squad.You’ve worked with Sir Derek Jacobi twice – in Juliet & Romeo, and the upcoming Tinsel Town. How was he? Derekj2210It was pretty cool to be in scenes with him. Even though we weren’t doing the iambic pentameter, it was interesting to watch how the language fell off his tongue. We were filming in...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Our fantasy of love has to do with need and dependency’: Melissa Febos on her year of celibacy

Febos’ life flourished while taking a year off sex and dating. In a new memoir, The Dry Season, the author explores the strong hold romance had on herWhen Melissa Febos decided to be celibate for a year – after what she describes as a “ravaging vortex of a relationship” and “five other brief entanglements” – she felt “pretty self-conscious and kind of weird”. But other people’s reactions surprised her.“I thought people were going to laugh at me or be like, that sounds boring, but so many people would lean in and either get this eager look on their face or this sort of dreadful look on their face, and they would say, ‘Oh, I think I should probably do that too,’” she says.
“I had no idea how many people had been in relationships for their whole adult life.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Salman Rushdie says AI won’t threaten authors until it can make people laugh

Author tells Hay festival AI has no sense of humour but when it writes a funny book ‘we’re screwed’Salman Rushdie has said that authors are safe from the threat of AI – until the moment it can create a book that makes people laugh.Speaking at the Hay festival in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, Rushdie said he had “never tried AI” and liked to pretend it didn’t exist. Continue reading...

Events