Readings for Tuesday-Jessica Beard

Well besides the obvious comedic theme to all three profiles, there are many similarities I noticed between them all. The one that I thought was most notable is that they all commence with the meager beginnings of all three profilees. I wouldn't go so far as to say that each one's story started with failure, but none of their success was attained early on in their careers, therefore their stories are that of ascension. We get a lot of their background and personal details, which really gives us a sense of who each one really is. Yes, they are all comedians in their own right; however, their stories drastically differ from one another. Another comparison that I found was that although we are afforded details about almost every aspect of each subject's lives, there seems to be one event or occurrence that really "makes" each person. Larry David: Seinfeld (and in part Curb Your Enthusiasm), Sarah Silverman: The Chink joke, and George Meyer: The Simpsons. Each respective event tends to be the central point of each profile and its what you'll remember them for after finishing reading about them. I loved the fact that I really got a good sense of who each person was and I believe this was because of the details, however minute, that were given about them. Out of all of them, I think I liked the Sarah Silverman piece the best. Not only because of the content (she's crazy, lol) but I think because I actually knew who she was. Once it was said she was Jimmy Kimmel's girlfriend, I was like, "Ohhhh...that's who she is," and then all the Jewish stuff made sense, lol.

Comments

[Minhquan Nguyen]

I think what I really get out of it was not exactly who these people are, but just an intimate look into their comedy, which in turn gives us an idea of how these people came to be the way they are. A person's style of comedy is deeply and innately personal, and when you investigate it, I think you get a closer look into that person's character than if the articles had spent the whole time talking about their likes and dislikes. Being a person who loves comedy of all kinds, I can really relate to these people, although some of their jokes I find a bit offensive, I can still laugh because for them, it is invariably hilarious. I especially like how Silverman says that she likes to say things her mind disagrees with, because often I am the same way. It makes these people less like comedic stars, and more like regular people who are just very, very funny.

[Nicole Wurzell]

i was just thinking about these three pieces on comedians and while they do share a bit of personal information on the comedians themselves (for instance, their background, their struggle to make it big - or at least get their jokes out their, their colleagues, etc) the articles rely moreso on their acutal comedy, just like minhquan said, which in turn tell a lot about the kind of people they are. this brings me back to mcphee's article on the trucker - we do not get a very introspective analysis on the trucker, sure we learn about his fetish for boots, religion and an imaculate vehicle, but there is really nothing that personal in the piece. the focus is on his job and the passion he has for it, just like the comedians and their jokes - which just works in a different to give that personal information and allow us a peak into their personal lives/selves. i do think that this is an effective method because in learning so much about what these people do and love we also get a sense of who they truly are.