Online Lunch And Learn: Punch And Judy — Tradition, Popular Culture, And Puppetry

Please join us for a virtual discussion by Dr. Jungmin Song on the history of Punch and Judy, the comical British hand puppet tradition, featuring the trickster character Punch and his wife Judy that was also exceedingly popular in the United States in the nineteenth century. Punch and Judy plays are episodic, with Punch interacting with his wife Judy and their baby, and opposing various figures of authority and characters drawn from other entertainment genres.

In this lunchtime talk, Dr. Song will highlight the controversial nature of Punch and Judy.   Although Punch and Judy has been loved by the public over the centuries, it carries elements from the past no longer considered acceptable to most current audiences, such as misogyny, domestic violence, capital punishment, and racism. Many Punch and Judy performers endeavor to rework the tradition so that it reflects contemporary concerns and issues without losing its core anarchic spirit. 

This presentation is virtual and free. Click here to register. The Zoom link will be in the attached ticket you receive with your confirmation email.