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Humanities To Go / Public Scholars Project / Catalogue / PS Programs

What’s funny about the Jersey Joke?

New Jersey has long been the whipping boy of New York City (and maybe Philly too). Decades ago, Woody Allen movies and Saturday Night Live amplified Jersey’s inferiority complex. This phenomenon, the Jersey Joke, started to turn in the mid 70’s when Bruce Springsteen gained national fame. The Jersey Joke continued to ebb and flow (consider how the Sopranos changed how Jersey was perceived) and still does. Jersey is a state like no other, the home of high profile innovators and artists – from Edison to Sinatra – and can boast national economic and scientific impact. And let’s not forget about its glorious tollbooths.

This program is available in Spanish.

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Michael Rockland, Ph.D.
Professor & Writer
PROGRAMS BY THIS SCHOLAR

  • American Made, From Burgers to Mark Twain
  • What’s funny about the Jersey Joke?

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  • ABOUT
    ▼
    • Mission
    • Impact
    • Staff and Interns
    • Board
    • Katz Prize
    • Strategic Plan
    • Job Openings
    • Accessibility
  • EVENTS
    ▼
    • 50th Monthly Events
    • 50th Anniversary Gala
    • Bringing Community Back to Community Colleges
    • Events Calendar
  • GRANTS
    ▼
    • Grants Overview
    • Funded Projects
    • For Grantees
  • PROGRAMS
    ▼
    • Clemente Course in the Humanities
    • Community Conversations
    • Community History
    • Humanities Lab
    • In the Weeds
    • Informed NJ
    • Museum on Main Street
    • Sponsorships
  • NEWS
  • DONATE
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