Swineryy is set to give a talk at University of Michigan about what it means to be funny

Comedian will be joined by sociologist Nida Kirmani, actor Swara Bhasker among others at the conference

Anonymous comedian Swineryy is all set to speak at the University of Michigan at their symposium titled “Social Media Influencers and the New Political Economy in South Asia and Africa”. The comedian will be speaking about the “risks involved in comedy” among other topics at the conference, which will be taking place on April 7-8 and will be live-streamed. Swineryy will be joined by sociologist Nida Kirmani, as well as Indian actor Swara Bhasker and Aminu Mahmud, a human rights lawyer from Nigeria.

Appearing in her pig avatar in the curtain-raiser for the conference, Swineryy shared, “I’m a comedian from Pakistan and I’m also a pig. An anonymous pig in a Muslim majority country. I’m going to be speaking about the different risks involved in being a comedian and I’m going to try and explore what it means to be funny.” 

She further elaborated on her Instagram stories that the preamble to her talk is a “prediction”, explaining that she hasn’t “written” anything down and that she feels like she’s going to “give an exam”. Her talk is titled “At the Risk of Sounding Funny”.

Nida, who will also be presenting at the conference, shared in the video, “I am looking forward to speaking with you about social media and the campaigns against the practice of enforced disappearances in Pakistan.”

Swara explained how her talk will revolve around the topic of how “social media made and unmade” her, as well as “the changing contours of celebrity identity and activism in new India”.