Starting tomorrow I will again be teaching "The Foundations of Comedy" lecture course at USC. I'll be surveying screen comedies, silent pictures, sitcoms, sketch comedy, stand up, improvisation, radio, screenwriting and playwrighting. Some features I'll be screening include: WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, THE LADY EVE, ANIMAL HOUSE, MIDNIGHT RUN, DR. STRANGELOVE, and BANANAS. These are all films I recommend you watch although you won't get credit.
More than that, it's the old expression:
You gotta be there.
I am however, sharing my reading list. There are way more books and articles, but these should get you started.
Required Reading--- Neil Simon –
Odd Couple (play)
Recommended Reading --John Vorhaus –
The Comic ToolboxDan O’Shannon –
What Are You Laughing At?Ken Levine – Blog: KenLevine.blogspot.com
Woody Allen –
Without FeathersWoody Allen –
Getting EvenTad Friend -
“What’s So Funny?” John Morreall –
“Historical Theories of Laughter”Henri Bergson –
Laughter, An Essay on the Meaning of the ComicSteve Martin –
Born Standing UpDouglas McKwan --
My Lush LifeTina Fey –
BossypantsMarc Maron –
Attempting NormalAndy Goldberg –
Improv ComedyMike Sacks –
Poking a Dead FrogI want a ten page paper on one of these topics from all of you by Friday.