A call for papers has been issued for ‘Funny People these Foreigners’, an international conference on international comedy, organised by the Communication, Cultural and Media Studies Research Centre, the University of Salford. After the success their conference last year, ‘What Have You Got In That Box? – Comedy and Regional National Identity’, they are inviting proposals for papers that investigate any aspect of comedy with an international perspective. Suggested topics might include:

* Breaking language barriers – successful comedy crossovers
* Les Visiteurs
* Roberto Benigni
* Asterix
* M. Hulot
* USA/UK transfers: successes and failures
* Silent Cinema
* National/International Comedy stars
* Dubbing vs subtitling debate
* British Comedy in international markets
* Comedy co-productions
* Film and TV Comedy and national identity
* Viva Los Simpsons! Universality of humour

And all points in between. Proposals (maximum 300 words) should be sent to Dr C.P. Lee (c.lee [at] salford.ac.uk) or Dr Andy Wills (a.willis [at] salford.ac.uk), by 17 March. The conference will take place 5-6 June 2008.