Christie Davies: British sociologist of humour, morality and censorship

Research themes and approach

Davies published numerous articles and books exploring how humour and jokes function within societies, how moral norms are enforced or contested, and how censorship operates in different political settings. He combined literary, historical and comparative perspectives and brought attention to joking as a window on social values, power relations and intergroup tensions.

Career and positions

Most of Davies's academic life was at the University of Reading, where he taught and supervised research in sociology for many years and held the title of professor emeritus after retirement. He also served as a visiting professor in several countries, including stints in India, Poland, the United States and Australia, which influenced his comparative studies and international outlook.

Contributions and examples

His work helped to place humour within mainstream sociological inquiry rather than treating it as merely recreational. Key emphases included:

• the social functions of jokes and ridicule;
• the relationship between humour and national or ethnic identity;
• the role of censorship in shaping public morality and cultural expression;
• connections between moral regulation and criminal law.

Reception and legacy

Davies is cited in cultural sociology, humour studies and discussions of censorship. His clear, sometimes polemical style made his writings accessible beyond narrow academic circles and encouraged interdisciplinary work on topics that had been neglected by mainstream sociology. Students and scholars continue to refer to his comparative method when analysing jokes, taboos and public morality.

Further reading

His published output includes multiple books and edited collections on jokes, humour, censorship and related social topics; these works are used in teaching and cited in literature surveys. For institutional information and selected publications consult university catalogues and library listings or major bibliographic resources.