What Is Comedy?

Comedy is a scientific mix of calamity and surprise

Illustration by Louis Sobol

Students, why do we laugh? Is it because the ghosts of sitcom studio audiences are escaping through our mouths? Yes, that’s part of it, but we mostly laugh because of comedy. But what is comedy?

Comedy comes from self-deprecation. Take it from me: it turns out a post-divorce pratfall from grace is a great way to stumble into…