“Although there is extensive literature on the role of comedy and humour in society, as far as I know there have been no studies on the role of comedy and conflict transformation in Northern Ireland, which is perhaps surprising given the anecdotal views voiced by a number of cultural commentators that humour has played an important role in contextualising the Northern Irish conflict.

For example, Ian S. Kennedy, the former Head of TV in BBC Northern Ireland, described his experience of humour during the ‘Troubles’ as:

“….every day life goes on, people have survived, and one of the mechanisms they use is humour.  They will laugh, therefore at things that other people would not find in the least bit funny.  And it’s a black humour- if they don’t laugh they are going to cry, as the old cliché says.” {1}

Dixon and Falvey, writing about Irish comedy, have also noted:

“Humour in Northern Ireland, not unexpectedly for a place that has experienced decades of conflict, pain and terror, tends towards the blacker side of dark.  Tragedy and comedy are close cousins – and the evidence for it is on the streets.”{2}

Cartoon by Martyn Turner (1998)

There is a view, not surprisingly expressed by local comedians in particular, that we have a unique, sardonic form of humour often delivered in an aggressive, slaggy manner which reflects our experience of conflict.  However, I’m not sure about this as I have found similarities in the comedy output of other post-conflict regions such as South Africa, Bosnia, and Israel/Palestine.

According to Craig Zelizer (2010), commenting on the wider international dimension of comedy as a tool in peace building:

“Around the world today, the use of humour can play a critical role in building positive relations or potentially inflaming conflicts. There are countless examples of individuals and groups using jokes and humour in conflict settings as a means for survival.  Comedy can help people cope with the impact of conflict, be used as a tool for building bridges across the conflict divide, or exacerbate conflict by intentionally or unintentionally demonizing others.”{3}

…Comedy is by no means a panacea for resolving conflicts, however, I would argue that it can play a positive role in a number of contexts and is worthy of exploration in seminars of this nature.  As a member of the audience commented after watching the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour perform in Israel, “Comedy can lighten up dialogue between people who otherwise would not be able to speak in the same way” (Audience 2007).”1

Cartoon by Martyn Turner (1993-95)

Conflict and sectarianism in Northern Ireland has permeated and affected every level of society, therefore it isn’t too surprising that the Northern Irish conflict has had an impact and legacy on its comedy. The next question then surely is: can the jokes and humour that helped people get through the most violent times be used to understand and tackle the issues that persist and surround us in so called ‘post-conflict’ Northern Ireland? Namely faltering political governance; a province increasingly made up of minorities; the changing role of paramilitarism; perceived alienation from the Loyalist community, increasing gaps in socio-economic inequality and impending public sector cuts. (Nolan, 2013) I would like to think so…

It is clear that jokes can divide as well as unite, depending on who or what is being made fun of or poked, but most importantly jokes don’t make people laugh by sitting on the fence – unless the fence is a peacewall and then sitting on top of it might provoke an emotion or two. Jokes can be disarmingly effective to reveal the connections and differences between us all – often created out of shared and common experience, humour can expose our anxieties and awkwardness around a subject. Jokes can be contagiously epidemic; enough to agitate protest, disrupt habits and lead change of the status quo. Jokes hold unforetold power. So what may the joke(s) for post-conflict architecture be? and how many ‘architects’ does it take to change its architecture?

References

1. http://www.bellylaughsbelfast.com/comedy-and-conflict-laughing-away-our-troubles/ [accessed 12/02/13] – references contained within:

1. Quoted in Dixon. Stephen and Falvey, Deirdre (2009). “The Gift of the Gag – the Explosion in Irish Comedy”. Blackstaff Press, Belfast. p220.

2.  Dixon. Stephen and Falvey, Deirdre (2009). “The Gift of the Gag – the Explosion in Irish Comedy”. Blackstaff Press, Belfast. p220.

3. Zelizer, Craig (2010). “Laughing our Way to Peace or War: Humour and Peacebuilding”.Journal of Conflictology. Vol. 1, Iss. 2. Campus for Peace, UOC.

2. Nolan, P. (2013) The Northern Ireland Peace Monitoring Report, Number Two, Community Relations Council [released 10th April 2013]

3. Turner, M. 1998, Brace yourself, bridge it! :a guide to Irish political relationships, 1996-1998, Blackstaff Press in association with Irish Times Books, Belfast.

4. Turner, M. 1995, Pack Up Your Troubles: 25 Years of Northern Ireland Cartoons, Blackstaff Press in association with Irish Times Books, Belfast.