I was listening to a comic that, personally, I didn't find especially funny. It was a slow night overall--hardly anyone was getting laughs--but after each joke that bombed or got a polite chuckle, he'd ask, "Not relatable?" I kept thinking, I laugh at a lot of things that aren't necessarily relatable to me--but it does have emotional resonance, which is different.
Wow. I think it'd be pretty painful to have to listen to a comedian say that each time. Seriously! And it's a passive-aggressive way of blaming the audience, which I think is very problematic. Rarely is it the audience's fault when there's a lack of laughter. I think emotional resonance is a huge part of the equation and the onus of that burden falls to the comedian. They must know the venue, the demographic, the audience, and read the room and use the jokes that'll work in that space with those people. Thanks for reading and commenting, Karina. I appreciate you.
I was listening to a comic that, personally, I didn't find especially funny. It was a slow night overall--hardly anyone was getting laughs--but after each joke that bombed or got a polite chuckle, he'd ask, "Not relatable?" I kept thinking, I laugh at a lot of things that aren't necessarily relatable to me--but it does have emotional resonance, which is different.
Another great article. Thanks!
Wow. I think it'd be pretty painful to have to listen to a comedian say that each time. Seriously! And it's a passive-aggressive way of blaming the audience, which I think is very problematic. Rarely is it the audience's fault when there's a lack of laughter. I think emotional resonance is a huge part of the equation and the onus of that burden falls to the comedian. They must know the venue, the demographic, the audience, and read the room and use the jokes that'll work in that space with those people. Thanks for reading and commenting, Karina. I appreciate you.