ESCC Learning Resource Center: Writing Comedy: Videos

The Philosophy of Comedy

What makes a joke funny? This video essay looks at the structure of a joke and takes a closer look at supplementary techniques used by modern comedians (viz. Bill Burr, Jerry Seinfeld, Louis C.K., and Dave Chappelle).

How to Write Comedy like a Bald Jerk (Larry David)

This video will attempt to breakdown Larry David's creative process from the writing stage, to shooting, and finally to editing, and hopefully provide some insight into how you can create comedy like true Social Assassin.

How to Be Witty (Conan O' Brien)

Conan O'Brien has an extremely fast sense of humor and wit, but there are principles behind the kind of sharp wit that Conan uses so often. And while his years of comedy training have made him a master, simply understanding the principles and using them in your own life can make people find you much much funnier.

SERIES: Key Concepts in Comedy

Digital Theatre covers five areas of comedy in Key Concepts in Comedy including example performance clips and fundamental principles.

What is Comedy? (11 min.)
Farce and Dark Comedy (12 min.)
Satire, Parody, and Comedy of Manners (15 min.)
Shakespearean Comedy (13 min.)
Theatre of the Absurd (16 min.)

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Arab Humor (1 min.)
The bonds of pride. (1991). In Films On Demand. Films Media Group. https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=98268&xtid=6785
Comedy (52 min.)
Comedy. (1998). In Films On Demand. Films Media Group. https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=98268&xtid=10180

This video explores the history of comedy in multiple cultures.
Humor, Laughter and Stress (5 min.)
The age of stress: Children under pressure. (2008). In Films On Demand. Films Media Group. https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=240744&xtid=39924
Sense of Humor in Children (4 min.)
Zero to hero: Shyness and sociability in children. (2004). In Films On Demand. Films Media Group. https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=240744&xtid=36542
Swearing & Humor (4 min.)
Uses and abuses: Fry’s planet word. (2011). In Films On Demand. Films Media Group. https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=98268&xtid=52470
What Makes Us Laugh? (2 min.)
The feelings model: Stanislavsky from the outside in. (2011). In Films On Demand. Films Media Group. https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=240744&xtid=55204

Writing Comedy

HINT: Use the keywords "comedy writing" when searching YouTube for videos. This will help limit your search results to videos which discuss the process rather than simply comedic videos.