The Function of Humour

Call for Papers: Humour in Arts-Based Research

Conference Date: January 28-29, 2026

Format: Online Virtual Conference

Fees: £100 for non-members (excluding Eventbrite fees)

15% discount for LABRC Members

"Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing." – Mark Twain

(Also, it’s a pretty good excuse to host an academic conference where people can laugh while learning!)

Humour has long served as a mirror to society, revealing truths through wit, irony, and laughter. It transcends boundaries, offers comfort in times of hardship, and plays a critical role in cultural, social, and psychological domains. From ancient comedy to modern satire, humour continues to shape how we perceive the world and interact with one another.

The London Arts-Based Research Centre (LABRC) invites submissions for a 3-day online conference exploring the intersections of humour and arts-based research. This virtual transdisciplinary conference invites creatives (including comedians, of course!), scholars, researchers, and practitioners to explore the multifaceted role of humour across different fields, cultures, and historical periods, and to examine how humour can be leveraged as both a subject and method of inquiry.

We encourage 15-minute virtual presentations (both academic and creative formats) that engage with the theme of humour from a wide range of disciplines, including literature, media studies, psychology, anthropology, cultural studies, philosophy, and sociology.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

· Humour in literature, film, and popular culture

· The psychology of humour and laughter

· Humour as a tool for social critique and political discourse

· Humour in the digital age: memes, viral content, and online satire

· Cross-cultural perspectives on humour

· Humour and mental health: coping mechanisms and resilience

· The role of humour in education and pedagogy

· Historical perspectives on humour: from ancient to contemporary times

· The ethics of humour: boundaries, offense, freedom of expression, and ethical considerations in research contexts

· The function of humour in everyday life (eg: in personal and social relationships)

· Theoretical frameworks for analysing humour in arts-based research

· Case studies of arts-based research projects incorporating humour

· Humour as a tool for knowledge dissemination and public engagement

· Intersections of humour with other affective dimensions in artistic inquiry

· Humour and pedagogy

Submission Guidelines:

Please submit a 250-word abstract along with a short bio on this form by December 27, 2025.

Accepted participants will be notified by early January.

For inquiries, feel free to contact us on conferences@labrc.co.uk

So let’s investigate humour’s functions, its impact on communication, and its transformative potential in various contexts…under the umbrella of arts-based research!