What drives certain groups, especially Islamists, in different degrees to regulate and event prohibit fun?

This talk will explore what fun is, who its main participants are, and who are its adversaries, in particular Islamists. The history of Islamism has been one of a battle against fun, playfulness, and diversion. The talk will look at questions such as: Is there such a thing as a politics of fun? Is there a politics to anti-fun-damentalism? Is there a subversive potential to fun?

Sarah Weirich is a candidate for the 2016-1017 Visiting Professor in Contemporary International Issues. She is a 2016 PhD candidate in Political Science from Rutgers University and holds a Master’s (MERIT) degree from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.