One Punk’s Guide to Standup Comedy By Tyler Sonnichsen

Standup comedy is difficult to write about because it’s an art form that can be so many things to so many people. Some view it as an admirable art and an essential outlet; others see it as vocal noise pollution for the self-indulgent. It stems from the world’s oldest form of entertainment (one performer saying insightful things to a captive audience), yet seems among the least respected. Standup suffers from the widest gap between insider and outsider perceptions, exacerbated by an internet noise machine that builds echo chambers and convinces comics the “general public” or “civilians” think about this shit the same way we do. It’s perpetually exhausting and at times infuriating.

Originally appeared in Razorcake #112 Oct./Nov. 2019