This path was created by Jim Witkiewicz.  The last update was by Mary Lopez.

Senior Project: University of California, Los Angeles

Introduction to the Truth Tellers


WOO so in further diving into my project, if you haven't noticed from the last eight pages of my project... I strongly believe in the power that humor is able to play in our society, meeting an unmet need in the way of communicating, along with cultivating healing within the different social issues we face. This section of my project explores the role comedians and Late night TV hosts play in our society acting as truth-tellers; calling aspects of our society out in real time, fostering a discussion of the injustices that have divided our society, that is often avoided because of the uncomfortably a certain issues holds. Being able to deconstruct such circumstances through the eyes of laughter, allows us to begin to digest certain horrors, providing people the ability to process, speak and act about painful topics that need to be addressed, and not view them as ‘taboo’. Whether those issues be rape, the US prison system, racism, mental health and everything else that makes it such a GRAND time to be alive. The comedians and TV shows that follow, I feel are diving into these problems, acting as guides to some of our largest cultural debates.

Let me note that these are only a FEW of the many incredible comedians and late night hosts who are utilizing humor as a means to foster
a conversation while providing constructive and active healing. Because there are more... ie.) three letters-- SNL, could be an entire project of itself. I hope to continue this exploration of humor as I move forward in looking at the power of humor and horror hold coexisting in the same space.

 

This page has paths:

  1. Uproar: The Power of Humor Mary Lopez

Contents of this path:

  1. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  2. Samantha Bee: Full Frontal
  3. Trevor Noah: The Daily Show
  4. Inside Amy Schumer
  5. Two Dope Queens
  6. Neal Brennan: 3 Mics
  7. Jerrod Carmichael
  8. Key & Peele

This page references: