Affiliated Part-time Faculty Center for Comedic Arts Multiple Positions

Courses include Evolution of Comedy II (CA103 Playing with Theory (CA200 and Seminar in Comedic Studies (VM403. Successful candidates will have a firm grasp of the vocabulary structures and tropes associated with comedy. Additionally they will be able to contextualize and analyze the form as it relates to issues of race gender class disability and other networks of power. A background in the practice of comedy is preferred.

Emerson College believes the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus climate where everyone can thrive is only possible in an authentically equitable accessible and socially just environment. As a community of storytellers we continually strive to cultivate a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent fully embracing individuals from varied cultures races abilities gender identities sexual orientations linguistic backgrounds socioeconomic statuses life experiences nationalities perspectives beliefs and values.

Course Descriptions

CA103: Evolution of Comedy II

This course surveys the evolution of comedy from 1895 to the present day primarily in North America. Throughout this semester we will explore the industrial historical creative and social infrastructures that gave rise to comedy in film television and a host of media formats. As we study these forms we will repeatedly examine how the development of comic forms styles and genres correspond to changes in social understandings of gender race sexuality class and national identity.

CA200: Playing with Theory

This course introduces students to comedy theory in order to hone their craft get a laugh and express a point of view in their work. The material in the course explores the structural political and ethical dimensions of laughter which will enable students to identify and play with comic frames in their own performance writing and studies of comedy. Students will exercise these theories by analyzing various comedic works writing research papers and developing their own creative pieces that put the theory into practice.

VM403: Seminar in Comedic Studies

Special seminar offerings in the area of comedic studies. Topics rotate and have included Global Chaplin Queer TV Comedy Norman Lear BorderCrossing & Comedy and Screwball & Romantic Comedy.

Complete applications that include cover letter CV and evidence of teaching effectiveness will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning immediately. Please indicate in your cover letter which course(s) you wish to be considered for. A PhD or advanced degrees in a related field is preferred.

Emerson College enrolls over 5800 graduate and undergraduate students from 49 states and more than 70 countries. Its main campus is located in the dynamic multicultural city of Boston. The college also has campuses in Los Angeles and the Netherlands. Emersons commitment to inclusive excellence is supported by a range of resources such as the Office of Internationalization & Equity the Social Justice Collaborative and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.

Please note in the job application where there is the CV/Cover Letter/ Additional Documents drop box you must include all of the required materials listed above. You can upload each document separately or as a combined PDF. Your application will not be complete without these documents.

If you are having issues uploading please email

This posting is an open pool. Applicants for the positions will not be notified of their status unless they are contacted by the department chair or their designee.

Applicants should withdraw their application from the pool if they are no longer interested.