The floor falling away: Dislocated space and body in the humour of ethiopian immigrants in Israel

Hagar Salamon*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present paper analyses humorous stories circulating among Ethiopian immigrants now living in Israel. Typically told at community gatherings, these narratives articulate the drama of dislocation and the traumatic encounter with life in Israel, by focusing on the embarrassing clash of the quintessential traditional Ethiopian, with a new land-scape, time-scape, and body-scape. Characterised by an easy spirit, the revelation of innocence met with forgiving and accepting laughter, these stories enable internalisation and mediation of common ambivalences and vulnerabilities, converting them into elements of pleasure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)16-34
Number of pages19
JournalFolklore
Volume122
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011

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