by Vanessa Frangville (LAMC, EASt/ULB)

The global Uyghur community is experiencing an unprecedented crisis since the mid-2010s, when China has embarked on a program of mass surveillance and social reengineering in the Uyghur region. Uyghurs’ experience of and reaction to this tragic situation is being well documented through analyses of testimonies, political activism and cultural production, however, humor as a space to share stories and display agency in times of crisis remains largely unexplored. Far from being trivial or superficial, the practice of humor in Uyghur society points to the many struggles, values and aspirations of its members. In this lecture, I will look at selected practices of humor in and outside the Uyghur region as critical windows to examine how Uyghur communities develop strategies to adapt and thrive.

Tuesday 24th February 2026, from 2pm until 4pm

Room S.H3244
Building H3
ULB - Campus Solbosch

Free entrance