Why this funny now?

1. Compare "funny" things to class-Get generalized idea of funny(for 20 something art students in Seattle)
-Videos
YouTube, Funny or Die, SNL, AFHV
(Compare randomly, then find patterns-->Context?)
-TV Shows
SNL, MadTV, The Office, Modern Family, Arrested Development
(Highly ranked funny vs. under the radar-->What do we like about either?)
-Comedians
Zach Galifinakis, Kathy Griffin, Dane Cook,
-Situations
People falling,

What do you remember about these? What stuck out to you? Do you know why you think that's funny?

COMIC STRIPS???

GQ ARTICLE
-"That's what this nation was built on[comedy]"
true? are we a comedy-based nation? are we funnier than other countries?
-*What are the American Classic Comedies?
1 for every year/decade? Starting with Charlie Chaplin...
-In such an un-funny time in America, how can we make it funny again?
-Tracy Morgan talks about Zach G. being "built for comedy". When it comes to comedians, can you be "built for it"? Is it like talent, where you either have it or don't? Based on looks? Comedic timing? Whats vitally important to comedy?
-SEE CHART
-Tracy Morgan on fit people not being funny, "Their personalities aren't cultivated. I mean, everything they get in life is based on their looks."
-->can hot people be funny? its the same women not being funny idea...
-Woody Allen- "If you think you're really funny, you're probably not"
-GQ: But you must think you're kind of funny if you get up onstage and tell jokes.
ZACH: I don't have any skills. It's the only thing I can do. You know what is always funny to me, also? And this is pretty specific. It's the tuba.
-TM: "Cool is the enemy of funny"
-Taking David Letterman for granted-he introduced so much to this culture and now its a "barometer for comedy". (irony & absurdity)
-GQ: Is Tyler Perry funny? If you say he's not funny, are you being racist?
TRACY: I guess he's funny, because his last movie opened up at $30 million.
-->does $$$ mean 'funny'??
-Make fun of everyone. 'white humor' vs. 'black humor'


Friedman, Devin. "Three of Our Most Serious Minds Confer..." GQ (2010). GQ.com. Aug. 2010. Web. Fall 2010. .
This article sprung my interest in comedy study over the summer. I love comedy generally, but this article brought a few things to my attention;Particularly, the only girl comedians are dressed as cute as possible and Paul Rudd has make-up on and 'what's always funny?'. This interview with today's hottest comedians in pop culture is such a valid opinion piece because they do this all the time and its a point of view that sparked my own.


-->Take all photos from this article and ask which ones are funny/why.
they're all similar, but have differences...

http://www.gq.com/entertainment/humor/201008/tracy-morgan-paul-rudd-zach-galifianakis-comedy-issue-photos#slide=1