Date of Award
5-2021
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Communication
First Advisor
Dr. Keith Hearit
Second Advisor
Dr. Julie Apker
Third Advisor
Dr. Richard Gershon
Keywords
Apologia, communication, humor, apology, crisis
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
This thesis examines the role of humor-based apologia as a crisis communication strategy for celebrities. Using a rhetorical method, it explicates the role that humor plays in shaping crisis narratives in response to kategoria within the context of Saturday Night Live. Four case study analyses determine whether the generic parameters of apologia include the use of a humor-based apologia or whether humorous apologiae should be classified as a unique subgenre. These findings further the body of research on apologia and highlight the need for additional research on the effectiveness of humor as a crisis communication strategy.
Recommended Citation
Hills, Vanessa S., "Laugh until it’s No Longer a Scandal: The Use of Humorous Apologia to Reframe Crisis Narratives on Saturday Night Live" (2021). Masters Theses. 5211.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/5211