One of the interesting things about comedy is it's tension release, and nothing creates tension faster than anger.
Lewis BlackRead
Stand-up is the only thing in which you actually write it, act it and direct it simultaneously, so it's actually a great theater exercise.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stand-up comedy combines writing, acting, and directing in one performance, making it a unique art form.
In this quote, Lewis Black emphasizes the multifaceted nature of stand-up comedy, where the comedian not only writes their material but also performs and directs their act simultaneously. This complexity likens stand-up to theater, as it requires the artist to embody the characters and convey messages through their own interpretations, all while maintaining audience engagement in real-time.
Themes
Stand-UpComedyTheaterPerformanceArt
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a workshop on performing arts to highlight the unique aspects of stand-up comedy.
More from Lewis Black
All quotes →You realize that for all the shenanigans that go on in the big circus of politics, everybody wakes up and goes to work.
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When I'm funny is when I'm angriest.
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If you're going to vote for somebody because you think they have a great faith in God, you'd better be sure that God has faith in them.
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I like my friends because they make me feel normal, even though I'm not.
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I get an idea about something. I just start thinking about it, and then I get onstage and I talk about it, and then I think about it some more and talk about it some more, and think about it some more and talk about it some more, until it starts to take a shape.
Lewis BlackRead
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