Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.
Office: GHH 215
Hours: M, T, W, Th, F: 11:00 - 12:00
Or By Appointment
Phone: 254 - 3230
You’ll remember Stephanie Kozinski (The Standup Comic as Anthropologist: Intentional Culture Critic) pp. 86 - 114 of Boskin, and her assertion that Standup Comics “pattern their comic material close to everyday reality, making obvious behavioral patterns, explicit and tacit operating knowledge and other insights about American Society objects of conscious reflection....The standup comedian can elevate his audience to a new cultural focus.” In other words, he or she holds a mirror up to our society and lets us see things about ourselves of which we remain largely ignorant otherwise.
I’d like to have you choose at least three standup comedians – either the ones she cites or one from the lists I’ve provided you, and illustrate her assertion by analyzing the behavior patters which form the butt of their humor. Use examples from either the video routines or the materials in Baker or Watkins.
Try for variety, if you can, black, white, male, female, edgy, traditional, but go for the ones you enjoy the most
