LOL 101: Comedy as Commentary
The University of Chicago has longstanding ties to the world of comedy – it was University of Chicago undergraduates who inspired and helped found the world-renowned improvisational comedy troupe, the Second City. This connection isn’t incidental to a socially engaged campus: humor plays a pivotal role in communicating new and sometimes controversial ideas to society at large. The extent and nature of this role was the topic of Chicago Society’s recent panel discussion, “LOL 101: Comedy as Commentary.”
The discussion featured four comedians at the top of their respective fields. Andy Borowitz is a political satirist and author of two books, as well as the co-creator of the hit TV sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Jordan Carlos is a stand-up comedian and “Stephen Colbert’s black friend, Allan” on The Colbert Report. Mike Reiss is a four-time Emmy award-winning producer for The Simpsons, as well as the co-creator of The Critic. Lizz Winstead is the co-creator of The Daily Show. The panel was moderated by Ted Cohen, a University of Chicago Professor in Philosophy, the College, the Committee on Art and Design, and the Committee on General Studies in the Humanities.
Professor Cohen focused questions on the political impact of comedy, particularly in light of the current situation in Iraq, and then opened the floor to students. Over two hundred and fifty were present, and their questions shifted the discussion to one of individual experience. Throughout the evening, panelists provoked both thought and laughter, demonstrating the power of comedy to foster discourse and to make that discourse a more enjoyable experience. The evening closed with a book signing by Andy Borowitz.
We are pleased to announce that during the 2007 RSO Awards Assembly, Chicago Society received the “Best Student Organization Event” award for “LOL 101: Comedy as Commentary.”
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