Lerninhalte |
Course Description:This course focuses on stand-up comedy, which is arguably the most popular solo comedy format inthe contemporary world. By briefly discussing the reasons behind this popularity, the history ofstand-up comedy and stand-up comedian’s current licensed spokesperson role, we will contextualizethe performance form. After this contextualization, we will take a look at the fundamental elementsof stand-up comedy such as the performer persona, comic material, potential targets of laughter,performance space and the dynamics of audience-performer relationship. Following the footsteps ofcritical humor studies, we will also deal with the politics of laughter and the utilization of comedyfor political purposes. These discussions will be accompanied and informed by practice as thestudents will not only evaluate performance examples from stand-up comedians but also performtheir own comic material in class for and with each other.
Course Objectives:Students will gain experience on analyzing performance forms in their own contexts. They will begiven tools and space to work on their own comic material, personas and attitudes and try to makeeach other laugh. By being introduced to humor theories, comic strategies and different approachesto stand-up comedy, they will gain a better understanding of how comedy works in general in termsof the generation of laughter. The class will offer the students perspectives on laughter that gobeyond its first meaning, namely a human vocalization signaling joy. The consideration of laughteras a powerful social force and power relations at play during the instances of laughter is an important aim of the course. |