2. L e a r n i n g O u t c o m e s
I n t h i s l e s s o n , y o u a r e e x p e c t e d t o :
1 . D e f i n e s t a n d - u p c o m e d y ;
2 . K n o w t h e n e w f o r m a t o f s t a n d - u p
c o m e d y ; a n d
3 . D i s c o v e r a n d a p p r e c i a t e F i l i p i n o
s t a n d - u p c o m e d i a n s .
4. Stand-up comedy has been in the
entertainment industry for two decades
now. However, it has only been blossoming
recently.
What is Stand Up
Comedy?
5. But what makes stand-up comedy different from other
types of comedic styles? For one, stand-up comedians
have to perform in front of a live audience. They
involve the audience in their performance. In reality,
they actually do not do this since they have a
script they stick to.
6. Stand-up comedians share their jokes
through a storyline or storylines in
sucession and in a fast-paced manner.
These short, fast-paced jokes are called
bits. A bit is basically a story.
7. It has a beginning, which is a background
story of the story or characters; a middle,
which has the meat and climax of the story;
and the ending, which has the punch line.
This structure is called a typical structure of
a joke.
8. Through efforts of Filipino stand-up
comedians to create organizations that
highlight stand-up comedy, it has garnered a
spotlight. Mostly, these comedy organizations
are in Luzon.
10. It is through social media platforms. Filipino
comedians living in other countries spread
their reach through Facebook. Others use
Netflix.
11. An example is the stand-up
comedian with the stage
name Jo Koy. His content is
very much Filipino.
12. In the Philippines, stand-up comedy is
still taking its baby steps in making its
stand in the entertainment industry
since it has a hard time rivaling classic
comedic styles that Filipinos prefer.
14. Mark Twain once said “that the human race has
only one really effective weapon and that is
laughter.” Even if this is an exaggeration, it
might explain our love for humor, specifically
the art of comedy. Humor allows people to
approach sensitive issues. No one is better at
this than the Standup Comic. The Comic’s job is
to create, sustain, and guide the audience
throughout their performance. In doing so, the
comic touches on material that is taboo to the
host society.
15. Jokes are obviously meant to be laughed at and
understood by the way in which the comedian
communicates their craft onstage: in front of their
audience under terms and conditions that are bth
relatable and comical. The more a comedian works
on their craft, knowing their audience, honing in on
the jocular, the more they earn trust and respect
from the people that pay to laugh. This trust and
respect is crucial to the comic to not only obtain
laughter, but also to send a message to the audience,
that even in times of difference, we are more similar
16. Polished comedians allow for their audience to
learn about the society by forcing them to think
about the infrastructure that orders our daily
lives. Jokes become the chisel chipping away at
the
preconceived notions which perpetuate the
inequalities of today’s world.
17. Because of the nature of a joke, topics that are often
taboo can carve out a space that can work at creating a
new understanding of a sensitive topic in its parody. It
also allows the comic/audience a dynamic space to
openly discuss and contemplate these sensitive issues.
Humor provides a key site for reversal and resistance to
the inequalities that society perpetuates, encouraging its
incongruity through disturbance, thus offering a
stylistic redefinition of reality. One such issue that has
been going through this redefinition is the notion of
sexuality.
18. Two weeks ago, Buffalo, NY celebrated their 21st
annual Pride Parade. It also celebrated a year in
which equal marriage rights gained traction in the
socio-political arena. With each successful
movement there comes hardships and down times,
but what we should really focus on is the work
being done every day to create the compassion
needed in order to rid our lives of the tyranny that
inequality creates.At the heart of this work lies
Kristen Becker (Buffalo Art Voice’s 2012 Best
Comedian).
19. Laughter as a weapon is something Becker takes
close to heart. Comedians like her succeed because
they help individuals to rearrange the way we all
understand social relationships. Topics such as
sexuality forces the listener to reevaulate their
understanding of identity from both their own
understand as well as the one being conveyed by the
comedian. Under her guidance, the Queen City is
armed with an arsenal of humor (both by
performance as well as mentoring) that is helping to
redefine the reality of this Blue Collar city.
20. Her comedy began over ten years ago and she has
travelled all across the United States promoting her
no-holds-bars progressive comedy on a plethora of
sensitive issues. Her success brought her home to
Buffalo six years ago, where she started reinventing a
comedy scene downtown that had previously been
dead for over a decade.
21. Starting with Doin’ Time Comedy at a music venue aptly
named Nietzsche’s, Becker has given a voice to those who
want to speak their mind about issues that matter in life
through the art of the jocular. Doin’ Time is in its sixth
year and has had over 90 different comics take its stage to
not only develop, but educate those who come out to
watch. Shortly after starting Doin’ Time Comedy, Becker
hit the road on one of the first ever tours featuring
lesbian comics, going to places in which progressive
comedy can be frowned upon.
22. The success of the Dykes of Hazard Tour gave birth to
the Comedy Variety Hour at the Babeville Arts Center
located in the heart of Buffalo. Notably, the show
consists of more than just comedy, focusing on music
as well as a burlesque show.
23. These shows not only combat long standing
prejudices; they are also a part of Buffalo’s
rebuilding process. The growing comedy scene,
according to Becker, can help stimulate the
economy by making it a place where people come
to see comedy. With a downtown comedy club,
people can fous on coming to shows that represent
the local culture but also see national acts, which
up until now, have shunned the Nickel City for
cities like Cleveland and Rochester.
24. As a Buffalo native, Becker wants the city
to regain the popularity that made it one
of the most progressive cities at the turn
of the twentieth centur. Her motivation to
make Buffalo succeed is best understood
by her focus away from individual
differences that constrain our
development (both individually as well as
a City) and focus on the importance of
similarity.
25. As a sociologist, I cannot agree with her more.
A good joke does not divide us in its
incongruity; it makes us laugh at how petty we
can be concerning difference, and by seeing
how we are in fact the same, can have
monumental effects on all of us regardless of
our sexuality, race, ethnicity, or gender.
26. Although the conversations I have had
with Kristen Becker (and this article)
might seem like nothing
more than reinventing the wheel, it is
important to remember that the more we
talk about individuals
like Becker, the more we can focus on
those everyday occurrences of similarity
that will help us
push for the equality we all deserve.
27. Stand-up comedy, and humor in general, covers or
euphemizes issues and topics that are considered
as controversial. The article sums this up. In the
Philippines, the use of humor in TV shows and
movies, allow anyone to think about issues (such as
political, social, and economical issues) in the
country. Stand-up comedy has brought this kind of
branding in the platform. Standup comedians, with
careful writing, and delivery, put controversies on
a platter and serve them
their audience, the Filipinos who make decisions
during elections.
28. Direction: Read the statements carefully then write T if the
statement is TRUE and write F if the statement is FALSE. In a
1/4 sheet of paper
1. Stand-up comedy has been in the entertainment industry for
two decades now.
2. Stand-up comedians do not involve the audience in their
performance.
3. A bit is a short, fast-paced joke that is basically a story with
a beginning, middle, and end.
29. 4. Stand-up comedy in the Philippines is only
popular in Luzon.
5. Stand-up comedians do not use social media
platforms to reach other regions.
6. Stand-up comedy can help approach sensitive
issues.
7. The job of the Stand-up Comic is to create,
sustain, and guide the audience throughout their
performance.
30. 8. Jokes are not meant to be laughed at and
understood by the way in which the comedian
communicates their craft onstage.
9. Polished comedians force their audience to think
about the infrastructure that orders our daily lives.
10. Kristen Becker has been doing comedy for over
ten years and she has travelled all across the United
States promoting her progressive comedy on a
plethora of sensitive issues.
31. ACTIVATE COLLECTING THINKING
Direction: Each group will write a comedy-
themed reflection paper about the discussion
on "stand-up comedy," incorporating humor
and emotions. Please use a single sheet of
paper.
32. Direction: Answer all the questions briefly and concisely,
summarizing the ideas on a single sheet of paper. (5 points)
1. How has stand-up comedy evolved in the entertainment
industry over the last two decades? Provide examples from
the discussion.
2. In what ways does stand-up comedy differ from other
comedic styles? Discuss with reference to the structure of a
joke as explained in the discussion.
33. 3. How have Filipino stand-up comedians utilized social
media platforms to extend their reach beyond Luzon? Use
examples from the text.
4. Discuss how stand-up comedy, as a form of humor,
allows people to approach sensitive issues. How does
this relate to the quote by Mark Twain mentioned in the
discussion?
5. How has Kristen Becker contributed to the comedy
scene and social issues in Buffalo, NY? Discuss her
impact in terms of both her comedy and her influence on
the city's socio-political landscape.
