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How To Write Funny

Episode 42 | Anne Libera

Jul 24, 2020
Anne Libera, founder of the Comedy Studies program at Columbia College, discusses comedy history, theory, and the importance of well-rounded professionals. They explore comedy cross-training, the art and craft of comedy, controlling context in comedy, transitioning from Second City to creating a comedy school, the history of comedy, the impact of comedy as a commodity, and comedy levels and intentionality.
01:03:13

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Comedy has evolved throughout history, from ancient Greece to vaudeville to modern stand-up and YouTube, showcasing different styles and reaching wider audiences.
  • The role of the king's fool in history, who could criticize and mock those in power without consequences, continues in modern times with late-night comedians serving as the official Fool.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Comedy

Comedy has been a part of human culture since before language. It is believed that humor developed as a way for our brains to test our macros and recognize the ridiculous. In ancient Greece, comedy focused on people and situations specific to their time. As comedy evolved, vaudeville and variety entertainment emerged, showcasing skill and eye-catching performances. Stand-up comedy in the 20th century allowed for more personal point of view and satire. Today, YouTube serves as a modern form of vaudeville, with comedians able to reach a wide audience through the internet.

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