The Philosophy of Comedy: comedic techniques
What makes a joke funny? This video essay looks at the structure of a joke and takes a closer look at supplementary techniques used by modern comedians (viz. Bill Burr, Jerry Seinfeld, Louis C.K., and Dave Chappelle).
Пікірлер: 434
Comedy is saying something outrageous then justifying it - Jerry Seinfeld
@skyluke9476
4 жыл бұрын
And the greatest comics say something true noone agrees with and justifies it
@redlemur7944
4 жыл бұрын
Guacamole on my watermelon. I put it on my watermelon because my watermelon asked for it. =jerry seinfields definition of comedy.
@janovin
4 жыл бұрын
No one does this better than Bill Burr. Check out his Conan interviews
@christian5609
4 жыл бұрын
u right tho
@kennethcarvalho3684
4 жыл бұрын
thats what he does in most of his jokes actually
“never waste a moment, every moment is a comedic moment”- bo burnham
Self-Discipline is the hardest and most rewarding virtue. With that you can conquer anything
@porkerpete7722
5 жыл бұрын
Yeah but if you're not funny then you'll consistently fail.
@tapz110
4 жыл бұрын
@@porkerpete7722 small minded people believe in shit like that.
@perhaps5095
4 жыл бұрын
@@tapz110 oh yeah, it's little brain time
@THE.FAKENEWS
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you
@aiden7245
3 жыл бұрын
@@porkerpete7722 nah there are many examples of comedy you can steal jokes and try to understand it. When you do youll will get good eventually. Everything you do is a skill by having the discipline to train it everydays for years you will reach the mastery level when it all happens automatically and thats where and when true artist shine. Leonardo Da VInci, Napoleon i mean there are countless of people that shine but before that they had to reach mastery by training and learning
This is like someone analyzing Mozart by saying, "Note the importance of not blowing into the violin."
@MrAndrew201
6 жыл бұрын
Astro Gremlin you'd be surprised how many people try to blow in their violin
@redram5150
6 жыл бұрын
After Jimmy Page played guitar with a violin bow, anything goes
@mrzuniga78
5 жыл бұрын
Astro Gremlin note the importance of there being something that YOU can blow on..
@FlashMeterRed
5 жыл бұрын
@@mrzuniga78 oh man sick buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn
@PURPLE.REIGN.1999
5 жыл бұрын
Great joke. Build up of tension included. ROFL
The outro confused the shit out of me.
@mads2858
3 жыл бұрын
Cause you ain't stoned friend. It was brilliant
@dexterfromlabs
3 жыл бұрын
That's the art of comedy.
@pjganley
3 жыл бұрын
Laugh tracks?
@MrCobaltScar
29 күн бұрын
@@dexterfromlabs Yeah, too bad it wasn't remotely funny.
he is criticizing Oprah. there's no exageration. it's all true. True, Oprah is not the usual target -- that's why it's funny.
@T25de
5 жыл бұрын
Lee Lorenz Burr is still good
@ultimatechojian1159
4 жыл бұрын
Na, I didn’t find this funny at all. I think it’s because I got too invested on the build up that I actually wanted an answer.
@Mary-cd3cl
3 жыл бұрын
U stole that from the video
@ancientphilosopher
2 жыл бұрын
Too funny
This feels like a video made for a film school project and it was so good it had to be uploaded to KZread. I mean this as a compliment, I sat through so many "How to use comedy in filmmaking" videos that were 30 minutes of family guy clips. It was like being in a class room full of Nostalgia Critic fans
Humor isn't a puzzle, it's almost directly the opposite. It's taking something grounded in reality and exposing it's oddity or strangeness etc. And yes, Bill Burr definitely IS criticizing Oprah, pretty directly too. He's basically calling her a sociopath, which she probably is.
@sirvanghazi9429
5 жыл бұрын
Socratic irony bro...
@OriginalDingus
5 жыл бұрын
LOL Probably is a sociopath? Remember like 10 years ago when she proclaimed she was God? Yeah I'll go ahead and double down on sociopath.
@brutalcanvas4005
5 жыл бұрын
@@OriginalDingus No I don't remember when she said that, because why the fuck would I follow her comings and goings.
@kaseyrolow
5 жыл бұрын
You sir just used this exact method to relate to me and be funny about it. So in a way you solved the puzzle you don’t believe in lol you made me laugh bc it’s true and relatable lol then again I love the blunt Carlin type humor so it makes sense I’d laugh at that lol
@superduperjoi6800
5 жыл бұрын
Thats why its funny
The end with the beginning credit rolling of "Friends" while playing the "Duck Tales" theme song had me thinking to myself "yep, this is it, I've finally completely lost it and I'm insane now."
As a comedian and a variety entertainer, I agree with a lot of strategies and statements that have been made in this video. It isn't all about the attitude nor character, but the tension that builds up that makes the joke that kick that it needs in order to be funny. It's kind of mind manipulation if you think about it. You are trying to trick the mind of the audience to think of one thing but making a separate turn that causes the irony. There are so many types of comedy including slapstick, stand up, dark, innuendos, etc but as long as you know what you are doing, you are going to be great
@globknob6411
3 жыл бұрын
Somebody thinks he's smart.🙄
@tyleriguana2450
3 жыл бұрын
@@globknob6411 lol I know I have some knowledge but I wouldn't consider myself as a "professional" yet. I still have a lot to learn and I am just using what I do know to progress as a performer
@emanuele0player159
2 жыл бұрын
Where did you start your carrer?
@tyleriguana2450
2 жыл бұрын
@@emanuele0player159 Where did I start my career? Well technically I've started on KZread but later on started performing on stage at school events, parties, private shows, competitions, and even in public!
@emanuele0player159
2 жыл бұрын
@@tyleriguana2450 that's good to hear. Could you please give me any tip or any specific channel to follow for maximum growth?
For a second in the beginning I thought I stumbled onto "How I met your mother"
Great description, setting up the punchline, use pauses to empasize the joke, know your audience, this is great stuff. Comedy is an art and it needs to trained and honed to really work.
@nigelgarrett2170
2 жыл бұрын
Bra this is the first time I think I ever seen somebody on KZread with the same name as me 😂😂
@nigelanicette9243
2 жыл бұрын
@@nigelgarrett2170 Coincidence? I think.....well, actually, that is a coincidence. Any other Nigel's around here? LOLXD Usually you hear Noah's, William's and Oliver's.
@uhhwhateverdude9463
2 жыл бұрын
@@nigelgarrett2170 Dude my first name is Garrett! Lol
I love bill burr.
@tomshokoff2551
5 жыл бұрын
Justis Savage best comedian
@tomshokoff2551
5 жыл бұрын
Him and Louis ck
@Koojoe89
4 жыл бұрын
Everyone does
I see comedy like sometimes talking about real world issues that nobody else wants to point out. I really like this art. Some comedians are brave.
Shortest 8 minutes I’ve ever experienced sober
This is great advice! Set up + punchline is more deeply achieved with dramatic tension. Thanks for the video!
Man when you hear this kind of serious voice explaining comedy
thank you for helping me on my essay
Comedy is just a natural thing people have that has been practiced into a skill.
What a wonderful observation on comedy. Thank you, Ron Sterling.
You have to pay attention to the ingredients. The full picture. Punch lines, buildups, etc etc. None of it matters if you don't have some sort of intrinsic interesting quality. Seinfeld's story telling techniques are one ingredient (how he moves his hands, vocal inflection, dialect, etc). A strong understanding of language and vocabulary are another ingredient. People that love comedy are drawn as much to the familiar story telling voice as the story itself. George Carlin is a good example. At some point the listener doesn't give a rats ass what the joke is. The melody and tonal inflection of Carlin's story telling was enough to bring anyone and everyone to their knees begging for more.
@stephaniegrow3761
5 жыл бұрын
@4:15 Seinfeld head movement. Being good doesn't mean you're funny all the time. It means you're good when people that are in a receptive mood (ie those that patron comedy clubs) are receiving what you're throwing.
@keyanawilliams7227
5 жыл бұрын
Explain jay leno
@greatbyrondo
4 жыл бұрын
@@keyanawilliams7227 ....Explain the people who find Stephen Colbert funny....
@alfredliggins8510
2 жыл бұрын
@@greatbyrondo no you explain why he is not funny
@Ishbikes
Жыл бұрын
@@alfredliggins8510 maybe because we don’t frickin laugh. He forces all his dumb jokes, he’s dead behind the eyes, just like his jokes. Steve is where jokes go to die
Surprisingly good analysis. Keep it up dude.
hey great video man, it really helps me out as a beginner in this field, learning this to have fun. because the fundamental tension release and puzzle solving seems to apply to more complicated techniques too in some ways, ty
Man, this was great!
The Ducktail's got me!!!! I sang along lol.
I've heard middle-schoolers doing oral reports on photosynthesis that have more enthusiasm in their voice than this guy. His voice is as exciting as a pair of beige corduroy pants.
@ren3533
4 жыл бұрын
James S as someone wearing beige corduroy pants, I am offended
@gamer-sama7769
4 жыл бұрын
@@ren3533 As a nudist I'm offended
@playboiperc3555
3 жыл бұрын
Oh the pain of predicting future fashions
Good video. The setup of a joke is to illustrate the norm, then the punchline brings in the violation. The setup and punchline are contrasted to create the violation amount. NOTE: Violation is a term used in the TED Talk of What makes things funny | Peter McGraw. The two videos fit together well.
But how did you meet our mother?
welcome surprise at the end. nostalgia overload.
That's ending was random af... and perfectly synced! Wow.
Duck tales ending explains the entire video. The build up then the humor. Boom great ending.
@TheBigGetEven
4 жыл бұрын
i loved it. And it fit timing wise with the friends clip because of course it did.
@capngrace84
Жыл бұрын
Dying
Louis CK and Chappelle have the best constructed stand ups out there. They even got whole videos dissecting how they tell jokes
@hunterjaffee2160
3 жыл бұрын
where are these videos
Lol. That ending though. 😆
What an outro! Bravo!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Saved the best for last... Chapelle is the G.O.A.T
This comedy guide is indeed fin-tastic
So no one's going to talk about the last 5 seconds of this video???
@pjganley
3 жыл бұрын
Yup. Laugh tracks.
Wtf. DuckTales...lol.
My comedic genius knows no limit.
@bluefiregamingandcards
4 жыл бұрын
You certainly take people's breath away I'll give you that much
@mashedtomato2079
4 жыл бұрын
He seems the type to leave people hanging
@ancientphilosopher
2 жыл бұрын
You’re not funnie
Haha song that is familiar to me haha I find this video funny now. I especially like the part where you point out the obvious while also making a claim that is blatantly untrue. Genius video! Did I also mention that I liked the ducktales song at the end. I thought it was funny to me because I recognized it.
nice to see im not the only one who uses the term "joke structure" and how did you manage to be so successful with almost no videos? im really curious
Great job!
The duck tales theme song though was funny af
I never found Seinfeld’s stand up that great. Love his show, I think his show is way better then his standup. Bill Burr and Chappell’s are two of the best. Louis CK is hilarious too. So many guys way better then Seinfeld, idk I just don’t find him funny, kind of corny to be honest
@Daswassuphomie
4 жыл бұрын
Comedy evolution has changed alot over the years. Its just the evolution of humor. Back then that kind of stuff was funny
@thewhat531
4 жыл бұрын
CottonShot 1 Seinfeld was known as the master of observational comedy; "have you ever noticed how (...)"
@ryanorlaw1594
4 жыл бұрын
should you tell him about Louis or should I
@thewhat531
4 жыл бұрын
Seth Mahoney are you still in the middle of that circle-jerk? Come on!
@hermanambriz
2 жыл бұрын
Hear hear! Senfeld's stand up, not funny at all. But it must be nice to reach a level of fame and recognition that people will laugh at anything you say.
Conan is only happy when he's talking to burr or shalansky
@dannyrm6498
5 жыл бұрын
or Norm
@DIYTFY
5 жыл бұрын
Or Goldblum
@samurai74785
5 жыл бұрын
Or olyphant
@samelean9752
4 жыл бұрын
Normy normy normy hockey normy horkey
@theomegaconcern9564
4 жыл бұрын
Or Norm MacDonald
What I learned from this video: you have to be funny to be a comedian
@OneFlewOverTheCuckoo1999
4 жыл бұрын
*Relatable* *Charismatic* *Witty* *Smart*
@WakaWaka2468
2 жыл бұрын
Big if true
Very Good Explanation 😁 👍 Well Done and Thank You ✨ ⭐
thought it was somewhat useful, but i dont understand the ducktales thing at the end with the friends credits ? was this on purpose ?
WHAT A LEGEND didnt force a video to 8 minutes lol
Good work buddy.... Learn new things keep doing 👍
Great Video
You've got a Bob Saget vibe about your voice. I like your content.
Comedy is all about giving surprises or breaking the expectations
Thanks!
That fucking end tho!! 😂😂😂
You know that when you smile you don't breathe Naah Just wanted a smile on your face😊😊
Well that ducktales (which btw autocorrects to fucktards 😂😂😂...maybe that's just my phone algorithming me...anyway) the ducktales /friends bit CONTINUES TO BLOW MY MIND. 💗💗💗💗THANK YOU!!!!!
Thanks for the help. Great job
What's the name of the background song?
literally the only channel with shit like this thank you man
@Mathew.
2 жыл бұрын
or lady or other thanks
Thanks
great video dude :D
Make more videos please
Make another video or re-add clips to this one, after explaining each bit of information you have an accompanying example of what you mean. After the good example, add a clip of one where the comic attempted it, but completely failed based on the audience reaction
Awesome
Duck tales song at the end over friends credits lololol 😂
All these comments on comedy and Duck Tales us the outro music, HARD. One of my favs
The friends shit at the end will give me nightmares.
When Anthony. From Opie and Anthony narrates hahahah
That's some terrific imagery from Louis CK
@midwestmaniack
3 жыл бұрын
Right. Give credit where credit is due. That was funny I love him Dave and Bill.
Hi, that’s was fine and all, but, uh.... What’s with the ending?
pour "Opera" set she will always, be a super star
Love video
4:30 this is why I’m starting my comedy career
i feel like this guy is the voice of old ted in HIMYM
I write comedy, but good lord, that last Dave Chappelle joke....I may have thought this, but I probably would not write it.. . Until now!!!
Hello, I speak from Brazil. You can kindly release the automatic subtitle of youtube from your video, I'm a comedian but I don't speak English and would like your content.
Those bill burr clips on Conan are fucking gold
These are some basic fundamentals. You can be a great stand up by mastering these but this isn’t all there is. Attell is the greatest stand up alive and his punchlines hit you like a truck with no tension build up
I had a stupid story telling bit about I knew an opener for me that took a thc weed edible before getting on stage. And he was having a panic attack and was scared that the audience were his friends staring at him coming to collect money he owed and the spotlight was police up in the rafters wanting to arrest him. But the premise was the audience would think he was pretending and it was all part of his act the way he was freaking out and would keep applauding him through his terrible high expeirence. And when he gets carried off stage by security, I came up and said something along the lines of "on a serious note (as if his ordeal wasnt serious) how do I follow that, anyone selling drugs that I can have?...I wanna be more funny"
The ending needs some explaining -ha ha!
4:55 yes. The comic must be in control. Meaning ... That you don't let the audience tell you whats funny ... you tell them. Lol. In other words ... grow a set.
This: * actual comedy * What 13yr olds think comedy is: Knock knock Who’s there *D E P P R E S I O N*
@themanstan0785
4 жыл бұрын
patthemightymat This comment: Ironic because it’s not funny whatsoever
@braydenjensen6059
4 жыл бұрын
This comment was underrated AF.
@sthuvbot
4 жыл бұрын
I think that's just humor from ages 8-16
@jade_ehx600
4 жыл бұрын
that’s just kids humor now
Oh snap he play the DuckTales theme song at the end, I used to run home to watch this cartoon after school and i was in high school😂..... just playing I was only 8 years old
Explain Steven Wright...
Are you the voice of old Ted Mosby?
The rape joke ends with the theme from Duck Tales. Haha
@paulondawula1011
5 жыл бұрын
Ducks are rapists, man. It's true, look it up.
That voice over is like the how i meet your mother
I see novice comics and I immediately know they’re bad and I don’t know why but when I see a professional I can tell if they’re good or not but thank you this is insightful, being vulgar or shocking isn’t funny.
I got some points from this video. But having said that there is no channel really breaking down the art of comedy and that's... ironic I guess? "Dummest of arts" seems to be the hardest to break down!
I like it 👍
Don't get the Oprah joke?
What the hell happened at the end?
"Saw game premise material" I wrote this awhile ago and found it jigsaw instead shows his captured victims him doing stand up on stage, and he would start with something like I want to tell a joke...I was in my wheelchair and my wife was next to me some asshole ran into the building while we were leaving and slammed the door into her pregnant self causing a miscarriage stares into camera intensely you have 60 seconds. victims are freaking out trying to break out and are mostly like wtf was that do you know him I don't even think he's on Netflix why did we watch that we have to break out. this happens over and over with jigsaw doing more sets of open mics and the only people that survive are the ones who laugh. they have a mechanism attached to their diaphram chained their limbs to the walls and if the machine detects laughter from shaking and has to hear the sound of it they will be let go and become jigsaw's opener I know I should not quit my day job, ill be here all week sort of cliche. It was a long time ago and now I just do clubs that arent really sketch comedy humor and more so talking like the greats before us, Carlin and Hicks bringing up social awareness of what goes on in our lives. I've been doing it for 5 years now, my advice and take it with a grain of salt is the best comedy is when you do not force it and try so hard to get a laugh. Go up there with no expectations of how it will be funny to your audience and kill it with natural conversations with occasional punchlines that will connect people that watch you to bigger ideas. That comedy will last you the longest and it is NOT gimmicky or hacky. Bill burr says you should have more consecutive jokes back to back as people's attention span is that of a goldfish and you do not want to lose your crowd's interest. Being interesting will make you go places. Some are just born with a funny bone and have it. You cant go in the room and hope everyone will laugh at what you say, some of them will hate you but that controversy of people getting offended is what makes stand up so good and meta lol
Ok so for pacing of the joke i want to talk like how a parent talks when lecturing their child, got it.
Thank God Bill Burr was not actually criticizing Oprah! I was concerned.
Dear KZread commenters, take notes
I think modern comedy culture is based on this philosophy, unlike the great comedians whose jokes are a hard punch in the gut. I've sat in recent comedy nights where the audience is trying to figure out when they are supposed to laugh, as if the burden is on them.
Sounds like the guy that voiced how I meet your mother
I’m terrified