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The relationship between comedy and social change has a long history and has been a subject of academic and cultural analysis. Female stand-up comedians have been postulated to function as a form of activist utilizing humor to confront injustices and gender inequality. Feminist comedy, characterized by its feminist perspective, aims to subvert gender stereotypes and expose the absurdity of patriarchal norms.

Iliza Shlesinger in particular, is a renowned comedian prominently featured on Netflix with six special releases, and her humor is observed to balance the satirization of preconceptions with affirming individuals' agency over self-identification.

The paper will focus on how gender norms are challenged, feminist issues are addressed, and women are empowered through the comedic style employed.

Research question
How do Ilaza Shlesinger’s specials empower feminism in the comedy discourse by challenging and subverting traditional gender norms?

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Method
Critical Discourse Analysis will be applied as the primary research method.

Artifact:
Iliza Shlesinger's two most recent specials, Unveiled and Hot Forever.

This study utilizes the scripts of Shlesinger's "Unveiled" and "Hot Forever" obtained from Scraps from the Loft. This website provides full scripts of media artifacts for educational and academic purposes (Scraps from the Loft, 2023).

Limitations and Future Research
While Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is a valuable framework for analyzing Iliza Shlesinger's comedy specials, it has limitations. CDA relies on interpretation and can be influenced by the researcher's biases. It also focuses predominantly on language and may overlook non-verbal components of comedic performances. Future studies could incorporate techniques that examine non-verbal elements and combine CDA with other methodologies, such as audience reception studies or qualitative interviews. Additionally, viewing statistics and conducting audience research would provide insights into the specials' perceptions and their impact on societal developments.

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Findings
The data collection and analytical processing of Iliza Shlesinger's comedy specials have yet to be fully completed.

The preliminary findings are
1. Iliza Shlesinger's comedy specials "Unveiled" and "Hot Forever" contribute to this empowerment by subverting conventional gender standards and addressing feminist issues.
2. Shlesinger's use of metaphors and folklore contributes to social change by raising awareness of females' real situations, challenging societal norms, and promoting feminist ideas.

What tactics seem to be the most effective, how her appropriation of norms may recalibrate gender discourses, and what kinds of audience research can offer information on perceptual and social repercussions are important issues that need to be investigated. Once complete, the analysis aims to improve comprehension of humor's function in defying expectations and strengthening disadvantaged populations.

Conclusion
This study contributes to the growing body of research on the role of comedy in promoting feminism and challenging societal norms. It emphasizes the significance of feminist humor in driving social change and highlights the need for nuanced analyses that account for both verbal and non-verbal elements. By examining the empowerment of feminism in comedy discourse, this study offers valuable insights into the potential of humor as a tool for promoting gender equality and inspiring critical engagement.

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10 Fearless Quotes by Iliza Shlesinger: The Example of a True Feminist. (2021, January 10). El-Shai. https://www.el-shai.com/iliza-shlesinger-feminist/

Fairclough, N. (1995). Language, ideology and power. In Critical Discourse Analysis: The Critical Study of Language.pdf. Longman Publishing. https://www.felsemiotica.com/descargas/Fairclough-Norman-Critical-Discourse-Analysis.-The-Critical-Study-of-Language.pdf

Feminism Challenges Femininity in Women-in-Comedy Documentary. (2021, April 20). Hope Magazine. https://www.hopeforwomenmag.com/hope-for-women-magazine/2021/4/14/feminism-challenges-femininity-in-new-women-in-comedy-documentary

Pinterest. (n.d.). Pinterest. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://www.pinterest.com/

TERMS OF USE - Scraps from the loft. (n.d.). Retrieved October 7, 2023, from http://scrapsfromtheloft.com/terms-of-use/