Humorist Comparison
In this section of his stand up routine, Jimmy O’Yang critiques the idea that because he is asian and well known, he intrinsically ends up being a representative of his race in different scenarios. He then goes on to illustrate this in multiple scenarios, giving examples of how Asians are less likely to tip and such. Using the backbone or rule that he needs to represent all Asians, he then makes jokes along this line through exaggeration, absurdity, blue humour, etc.
The Fairbairn Films youtube channel doesn’t do the same type of humor, and does sketch comedy rather than stand up. For example, in this sketch about warm water, the brothers go into a very trivial spat over (aptly) drinking warm water. This structure embodies most of their work- find a trivial issue, and blow it up into an absurd argument with similarly nonsensical arguments for either side.
Sketch comedy, especially in an online setting, has more room for tools that aren’t only in the script. They have access to camera movement (pulls, cuts, and shakes and stuff), allowing them to do different things with pacing and also more easily draw attention to certain subjects. Conversely, stand up comedians like Jimmy O’Yang (at least in this setting) have a much more limited kit, through their own body movements, expressions, and script writing. The actual humor itself is stylistically different between the two as well- Fairbairn films is generally more absurd, and the delivery reflects that. The acting is intentionally a bit stiff and disconnected, and adds to the awkward and nonsensical situations that they present. O’Yang, on the other end, is emphatic and expressive in his delivery, which also suits his writing, as it’s much more grounded on reality and keeps coming back to it. He provides parallels to relatable situations with some witty response, but doesn’t continue to harp on it and exaggerate as Fairbairn does.
Humour Project Proposal: (A bit scuffed whoops- also realizing that I did this half a bit wrong)
I am currently planning on doing a stand up comedy routine directed at hipster stereotypes, since I tend to fall into a lot of them. Similarly to how Jimmy O’Yang and other comedians set up a basic rule or backbone to go through the routine, this routine would be centered around a narrator who criticizes these people, but also throughout the routine and in character embodies these qualities. Examples of this would be long hair, circle glasses, constantly picking up mason jars of drinks in between jokes, referencing himself doing other other things (“Like, when I go thrifting…”) , etc.
The primary devices I want to use are wit, hyperbole, and an underlying hypocrisy (if that counts?).
Can start it with a anecdote about alexander technique
- So I show up to a zoom thing, about alexander technique, which is cool and good, but it’s pretty much just mindfulness with extra steps.
Attacking things like
- Coffee / Tea (stirring with a fork? Fancy cupping spoon?)
- Vegan
- Alexander Technique / Mindfulness / Alternative medicine
- Aesthetics
- Thrifting
- Salt lamps
- Essential oils
- Beanies
- Astral Signs
- Clean energy
- Kombucha
- TumblrÂ