To pop the laughter bubble in public can be a dangerous performance that many are incapable of doing in the first place. Comedy takes many forms but often comes from a dark place. For those that can shine light wherever they go, I appreciate you doing God's work.
There seems to be a relationship to the fringe areas of society and comedy. That darkness can often light the future shaping of morality and normalcy. Other times, the perspective shift that comes in the comical tone gives a shared memorable moment an authentic experience that accepts the vulnerability and imperfect truth to the humor at hand. Comedy can also be a universal joy for all ears to hear. The ability to make light of dark controversy outside of the mind's playground is an art form that few have the gonads to attempt outwardly but we all internalize naturally. To be the clown is one of the bravest thing a man or woman can do for he/she humiliates him/herself for the joy of others.
There are new forms and ancient forms of comedy. I feel like a good ole fart is one of the oldest mechanisms to ignite a smile. Some say God has a sense of humor and I hope they/he/she are right. One modern form of comedy is called, Memes, which are an interesting consolidated hyper-focused function of comedy. These are both short clips and pictures. Before memes, there were comic strips. There's also been designated community comics such as Jesters. Actors who perform comedy in movies have a unique ability to act in a way that reaches the masses. Such form of humor is often dry like bread. Sure, everyone likes bread but bread can only have so much flavor and value in and of itself. Other types of comedy is someone emitting pain or simply a circumstantial happenstance. With the advent of social media, annoying and embarrassing people has become a popularized form of "cheap" comedy that I'm not interested in. There is quick-witted roasting that is intermixed with stand up comedy that I'm not opposed to dabble with but do not intend on focusing on. To this, I say everyone should practice the art of dunking on someone verbally. To be able to have the wherewithal to look at someone, and based on how they carry themselves, pick them apart amidst controversy is an empowering skill whether you actively point out those comical points or not.
Growing up, laughter was my medicine to the chronic joint pain and personal trouble. Comedy was also usually the cause of getting in trouble from my teachers and coaches. I find comfort in the release of a pint up thought as nearly everyone does too. Perhaps my probable damaged prefrontal cortex gives me the imaginary bravery needed to risk my social status. Or perhaps my low self esteem is so potent that I am seeking approval from others to the point of humiliation. The more I do stand up, the more I learn about myself and others. Humor gives either honesty and/or potential evil a place to live in the public stratosphere. How can society grow without pointing out the idiotic contradictions of itself. Light sterilizes toxins and comedy can enhance said toxin or fully eradicate it.
Comedy at its root appears to be a psychic ability to connect collective internal dialogues in a flavorful external format. Words are secular from the humor behind a moment. Comedy is timing, tone, atmosphere, moment, topic, props, sound, and lastly, a series of words. I've never been an actor outside of just being someone others want me to be when I really didn't want to. However, as a comedian, performance is a key function of the act. My acting is more similar to cardboard than a character. More times than not, I find myself laughing to and at myself more than getting a laugh from others, however the real joy is the inciting of a comical moment/thought/experience. I have even enjoyed awkward moments as much as intended comedic bits. Comedy is a form of Joy and it's a form of Honesty. It's a playground of externalizing what most people have internalized.
I'm trying to feed those hungry for reality. Whit has always been my hopeful comedic type, but not in quick sense, rather in a play on words type. But stand up comedy is a universe of its own that is becoming one of my favorite and most challenging hobbies. Much of what we find as funny is topical and relative to time and place, however some things will remain funny for eons. My goal is to use Comedy to retain civil liberties and protect reality itself. The ability to constructively point out the idiocies in society is one of the most important means to not letting it decay. I believe this is one of Jesus' messages as well as Shakespeare's. Stand up to corruption.
Since I have begun doing stand up, I want to challenge myself creatively by not doing the typical raunchy bits that get an easy laugh, rather to applaud Dave Chapel's approach, I want to do comedy that brings people together in some form or fashion. The type of comedy I am aiming for would ideally stand for a somewhat moral truth that helps society heal, or at the minimum, make fun of the mainstream talking points to enhance the overall perspective. I'm not saying this to bash the dirty comics out there because I have quite the dirty mind too. I'm sure I'll have some dirty jokes in my bits too but I also hope there is depth and purpose beyond a flaccid short term memory joke. In some ways, before healing, you have to score away the dirt and infected area of interest before the actual healing can take place. Many comics have a dark path which is why we need them to help shine the light onward. The space between an arrogant Ahole bully and a whitty confident comic is quite the tight rope.
Language evolves and therefore so does comedy. One of my beliefs is the power of language can make or break a truth. Although I'm not dumb enough to use the "N" word, that is one of the only words I have kept out of my dictionary, because quite simply, I grew up with it being out of reach. With the age of cancellation, I think it is my job as a self proclaimed so-called "wordsmith" to make sure words stay alive. Retard and Gay are two words recently put on the cancel list that I find incredibly useful and necessary in the world of comedy as well as descriptors of what I see. I refuse to be bullied into the words I have to use. This stance could be the death of me, but I find it freeing to go against the grain. Friction is one way energy is created from seemingly nothing beyond the initial inertia. This friction is exactly one of the tricks to create a laugh from seemingly nothing.
Currently, comedy is my hobby. It is helping me develop my mental dexterity and short-term memory, get outside my comfort zone, and also be direct in person. Anyone with enough time can write a joke, but to perform one that could potentially be offensive to the wrong idiot is something that I have strayed away from my entire life. Until Covid, I constantly sought after approval of others never wanting to hurt someone's feelings. Hyper empathy for those who hurt themselves is not only dangerous but negligent of logic and truth. Since Covid, I realized that being liked and not speaking my mind and beliefs has caused far more harm in my life than good, especially in a socially corrupt world. Why would I want a stupid or evil person to like what I have to say. In the moments where I am wrong, I get a chance to learn something.
So friends and strangers, stay tuned, or don't. I don't give a fuck either way. Regardless, keep that funny bubble alive and well. Let honesty lead the way. Clown around when you can. You'll be surprised when and where a joke fills the void of awkward and difficult situations with charm, charisma, whit, honesty and laughter.
This article is dedicated to the most loving clown I have ever met, even though she probably wouldn't appreciate much of my comedy nor agree with what I think. May she rest in peace.
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