The Polymath Project | How Comedy works

"With improv, it's a combination of listening and not trying to be funny"

Through this blog, I will be sharing my daily experiences and insights as I embark on this journey to become a polymath. I will be exploring a diverse range of topics, from science and technology to art and literature, and sharing my thoughts and observations along the way.

The Polymath Project

How Comedy Works:

My wife tells me I'm funny. My mom laughs every time we talk. Maybe I am funny. Or maybe they just love me too much. The only way I can figure out whether I am funny or not, is to find out how comedy works.

My earliest experiences with comedy all revolve around one of my elder brother. I remember laughing for hours with my cousins, sitting in circle around my bother, listening to his stories. He would narrate how something strange happened to him and it would seem so out of the world, and we would all tear up laughing. He is a fantastic storyteller, drawing everyone in from the start, engaging the emotions and always come up to the funniest plot twist. He always seemed so relaxed and in the moment. I can't even begin to fathom how he always managed to give such a high-energy delivery, integrating body language and facial expressions into all his stories.

I always aspired to someday be as good as him in story-telling.

"Comedy is just exaggerated reality."

The art and science of comedy encompass both the creative and analytical aspects of comedic performance:

Art of Comedy:

The art of comedy refers to the

expressive elements involved in

crafting and
delivering humorous content

It involves the ability to

create jokes
write comedic material, and
perform in a way that elicits laughter from the audience

Some of the artistic techniques used in comedy are

Comedic timing
wordplay
storytelling
physicality, and
improvisation

Science of Comedy:

analytical and technical aspects of comedy

exploring the underlying principles
why people laugh

delves into the

psychological
linguistic, and
sociocultural factors that contribute to humor

Understanding comedic structures

comedic formulas
audience psychology, and
cultural context

The two main forms of comedy are stand-up comedy and improv comedy.

Origins of Improv:

In USA

It's origin is in relation to its use as a teaching tool.
improv started as a way to teach children

how to assimilate into the United States.

In 1939, Viola Spolin, an actress and educator

became a drama supervisor for the Recreational Project in Chicago
she worked with children and recent immigrants
people who had limited English proficiency
traditional teaching methods were ineffective for these individuals
Spolin turned to games and improvisation as a means of

teaching language
cooperation, socialization, and
other important skills.

She learned these techniques from Neva Boyd

a sociologist and educational expert
who believed in the power of play to facilitate learning.

improv emerged out of the necessity to overcome language barriers

In INDIA

rich tradition of storytelling and performance arts

including forms of improvisation and communication

earliest recorded instances of improv-like storytelling

found in the ancient Sanskrit text called the Naty Shastr
Written by Bharat Muni around the 2nd century BCE

Naty Shastr

comprehensive treatise on the performing arts
a section dedicated to "Ras Abhinay"
involves the expression of emotions
includes improvisational techniques for actors
spontaneously portray different emotions and characters
actors were expected to adapt to the reactions of the audience
respond accordingly
making it a form of interactive & improvisational storytelling

Another significant form of improvisation

found in the folk traditions
in the state of Maharashtra
traditional form of storytelling called "Tamasha"
Tamasha performances involve

combination of music, dance, and improvised dialogues
the performers engage with the audience
create humorous and entertaining narratives on the spot

In South India

classical dance form called "Kathakali"

incorporates elements of improvisation

Kathakali actors

use codified gestures, facial expressions, and
body movements
portray characters from mythological stories

the main storyline is predetermined
there are sections within the performance where

actors engage in extemporaneous dialogues & interactions
showcasing their improvisational skills

Is Comedy (for example, Standup comedy) different from Impov comedy? Here are some key differences between stand-up comedy and improv comedy-

Preparation and Structure:

Stand-Up Comedy:

typically prepare and rehearse their material in advance
create a structured set with carefully crafted jokes and stories
often following a predetermined order or sequence

Improv Comedy:

perform without a pre-written script or planned material
rely on spontaneous creation and collaboration

building scenes, characters, and jokes
on the spot based on audience suggestions or prompts

Control and Flexibility:

Stand-Up Comedy:

have greater control over their set
can navigate the timing, delivery, and pacing of their jokes
can adjust their performance based on audience reactions

Improv Comedy:

relinquish some control
embrace the unpredictable nature of the performance
adapt to unexpected suggestions

incorporate the ideas of fellow performers
respond to spontaneous audience interactions

How to be better at Improv?

Listen and respond #1

-- listen carefully

-- react to the information

-- observe their actions
Yes, And.. #2

-- most crucial rules of improv

-- react positively to what they are saying

-- build on the scenario
Follow your first instinct #3

-- Be honest, embraces truth

-- love, lust, anger, jealousy, skepticism—can be funny in a comedic scene

-- Worry less about being funny

-- focus on staying present in the scene

The road ahead is full of twists and turns, and I can't wait to see what lies ahead!

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