The power of comedy

A good comic performance contains elements of power.

It’s an air of self-awareness. The easiest way for a comedian (or a writer) to tell any story is to tell a story about themselves. However, different from new writers, comedians are self-ware, but NOT too self-conscious. Their kind of self-awareness tends to focus on their defects (aka self-deprecation), so this is a way of telling a story about oneself but at the same time fostering understanding and connection with other people. At times, it can remove social taboos. In many ways, comedians are like peace ambassadors.

It’s an air of acute observation. Not all comedy works are insightful, but a lot of them are. A comedian’s “observation lense” is straight at the heart of the matter – the ironic elements. It’s about pointing out essence of a matter in a very short time. It feels powerful.

It’s an air of playfulness. A comedy tale that works invites listeners into a world of shared understanding/ codes/ symbols, while promising elements of surprise. It feels exciting.
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But what about characters like the one in michel houellebecq’s novel – a self-aware one, a master of technique? What about…..not sure what I am trying to say here