A Class Full of Class Clowns: A Case Study On The Education of Aspiring Comedians

Abstract

Stand-up comedy is not just for entertainment. It is a platform that many comedians have used to question hierarchies, critique social injustice and inspire change (Chattoo, 2019; Gilbert, 2004; Bingham Hernandez, 2009). For this reason, it is important to understand the education and progression of aspiring comedians as they embark on their journey as social influencers. The purpose of this study was to examine the comedy principles that students learned and how they applied these to their own practice. This study also examined the instructional approaches of stand-up comedy instructors as they guided students with their professional expertise. To inform my case studies, I observed two stand-up comedy classes over a sixteen week period. My results showed that instructors used a balance of different feedback and modeling techniques to create a safe space for their students to explore their comedic creativity. For the students, the classes were a practice on self-reflection, as they learned the importance of drawing on their own experiences to create authentic stage personas. Through their writing and their performances, they also had to negotiate ways to be relatable to their audience. However, one of the major challenges that students encountered was finding the right balance in showing and sharing their vulnerable sides. Some students had difficulties navigating “the hurtline” (Perez, 2013), while others over-relied on negative self-deprecating humour. This study supports the idea that being a comedian is much more than “being funny” and telling jokes. It also highlights the importance of the self and drawing on lived experiences in the composition and performance of comedy. The implications of this study go beyond the stand-up comedy profession, as the resulting instructional themes can be applied to arts education. Additionally, the principles of being a comedian can be applied to everyday social interaction as humour plays a significant role in our lives.