50 thinkers, books, and ideas connected to this field.
Athenian comic playwright who wrote The Clouds (satirizing Socrates as a dangerous sophist), The Birds, Lysistrata, and The Frogs — and whose famous speech in Plato's Symposium explains the origin of love through the myth of humans as originally doubled beings cut in half by Zeus.
American comedian, actor, and author — co-creator of Master of None (Netflix) — author of Modern Romance — who combines stand-up comedy, television writing, and sociological research.
American comedian and actor whose SNL work, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and collaborations with Wes Anderson made him one of the most beloved figures in American entertainment — and whose real-life behavior (crashing parties, doing unexpected things for strangers) has become as culturally significant as his roles.
Mel Brooks's 1974 satirical Western — featuring a Black sheriff (Cleavon Little) appointed to a racist frontier town — which uses Western genre conventions to satirize American racism and Hollywood's erasure of race from the Western genre.
British-American entertainer who was the most celebrated entertainer of American servicemen during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War — his USO tours bringing comedy to over a million soldiers — and one of the most successful entertainers in the history of American comedy, film, and television.
American actor whose physical transformation from comedic overweight Parks and Recreation star to action hero Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World made him one of Hollywood's most commercially successful stars — and whose Christian faith has been a public part of his identity.
Machiavelli's 1525 comedy — adapted from Plautus's Casina — about an aging Florentine (Nicomaco) who competes with his own son for a young ward, demonstrating that passion makes fools of men regardless of age and wisdom.
Dom Joly is a British comedian and writer best known for the hidden-camera show 'Trigger Happy TV', who attended Haileybury College at the same time as Christopher Nolan.
British author — creator of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy — who died at 49 of a heart attack — whose combination of philosophical wit, genuine scientific curiosity, and comic timing made him the most beloved British comic writer of his generation.
Ancient Greek comic poet from Sicily who is credited with early philosophical arguments about personal identity and the paradox of growth — a person is not the same after acquiring new matter.
A 1986 comedy by John Hughes in which a charismatic Chicago teenager fakes illness to skip school and drags his best friend and girlfriend on a day-long adventure through the city.
American comedy podcast co-hosted by Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh — combining comedy commentary on current events, sports, and culture with political incorrectness and social observation.
American comedian, actor, and writer — member of Spinal Tap — voice of multiple Simpsons characters (Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, Ned Flanders, Dr. Hibbert) — SNL cast member — creator of Le Show — one of the most influential satirical voices in American entertainment.
P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves stories — featuring the supremely competent manservant Jeeves and his hapless employer Bertie Wooster — the definitive comic depiction of the English upper class of the Edwardian and interwar period — one of the great comic creations in English literature.
American comedian and actor — co-creator of Seinfeld (1989–1998, the most commercially successful TV comedy in history) — whose commitment to the craft of standup comedy (he has performed 80+ dates annually for 45 years) is the most documented example of creative discipline in comedy.
Canadian-American comedian and actor whose physical comedy and dramatic range (The Truman Show, Eternal Sunshine) made him one of the defining entertainers of the 1990s — and whose later philosophical turn, public advocacy of psychedelics and spirituality, and painting practice make him a compelling figure on questions of identity and meaning.
American comedian, UFC commentator, and podcaster — host of The Joe Rogan Experience — the world's most listened-to podcast — who became one of the most influential media figures of the 2010s–2020s through long-form uncensored conversation.
American comedian and content creator whose YouTube comedy and podcast work built a dedicated following in the comedy and self-improvement space.
American writer, performer, and Jungian scholar who is the daughter of comedian George Carlin — and who has processed her relationship to her father's legacy and her own psychological development through Jungian analysis, writing A Carlin Home Companion.
American stand-up comedian and actor who became one of the highest-grossing comedians in history and built a media and business empire around his personal brand.
Machiavelli's comic masterpiece — a 1518 play about Callimaco's scheme to sleep with the beautiful Lucrezia (wife of the foolish Nicia) through an elaborate deception involving a fake mandrake root potion — generally regarded as the greatest Italian Renaissance comedy.
American comedy podcast hosted by Matt McCusker and Shane Gillis — a fan-favorite long-form comedy conversation podcast.
American comedian, writer, and director who made The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights — one of the great American comedy filmmakers — who has EGOT status and is famous for Jewish comedy, genre parody, and transgressive humor.
Canadian comedian and filmmaker whose work — Nathan for You, The Rehearsal, The Curse — uses elaborate real-world setups to probe authenticity, social contract, and the nature of performance.
Max Barbakow's 2020 time-loop romantic comedy starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, which updates the Groundhog Day formula by having multiple characters stuck in the loop simultaneously.
American comedy podcast featuring irreverent storytelling and cultural commentary — part of the independent comedy podcast ecosystem.
Wes Hazard's comedic question book — posing ethical dilemmas and absurd scenarios for conversation.
American comedian and actor known for his role in Undateable and his podcast Take Your Shoes Off — whose neurodivergent humor and unconventional interview style have built a cult following.
Robin Williams was an American comedian and actor whose manic improvisational comedy was matched by his ability to play menacing, precise dramatic roles — most notably in Nolan's 'Insomnia', Fincher's 'One Hour Photo', and Van Sant's 'Good Will Hunting'.
Mike Judge's HBO comedy about a startup founder whose revolutionary compression algorithm attracts the attention of both a tech billionaire and a competing company — a sharply accurate satire of Silicon Valley culture, VC dynamics, and startup absurdity.
Celebrity interview podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, structured around surprise guest reveals and spontaneous comedic conversation.
Mel Brooks's 1987 parody of Star Wars — featuring Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) and President Skroob — a satirical comedy that targets the Star Wars franchise and Hollywood science fiction.
Ryan Sickler's podcast occupying the space between comedy and authentic personal storytelling — representing neurodivergent experience and underground comedy community.
Joe Santagato's comedy podcast featuring conversational humor, storytelling, and cultural commentary — part of the independent comedy podcast ecosystem.
Douglas Adams's 1979 comic science fiction novel — following Arthur Dent's adventures after Earth is demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass — the most beloved comic science fiction novel and the source of '42' as the answer to life.
Joe Rogan's long-form interview podcast — launched 2009 — the most listened-to podcast in the world — which covers MMA, comedy, science, conspiracy theories, psychedelics, and politics through multi-hour conversations with guests ranging from scientists to comedians to politicians.
American satirical news organization founded in Madison, Wisconsin in 1988 — which became the most influential satirical publication in American journalism history, producing news parody that frequently revealed more truth about American culture than straight journalism.
Nathan Fielder's HBO television series in which he helps ordinary people rehearse difficult real-life conversations with escalating layers of simulation and meta-commentary.
Tim Dillon's satirical political comedy podcast — one of the most distinctive voices in independent media, known for its anti-establishment dark comedy across the political spectrum.
Theo Von's comedy and life podcast — notable for its surreal Southern storytelling, candid discussions of addiction and mental health, and a unique masculine vulnerability rarely seen in media.
Netflix comedy series set in an auto shop, created by and starring Shane Gillis, focusing on the relationship between cousins running a struggling tire business.
Shakespeare's 1601 comedy following Viola, who disguises herself as Cesario after a shipwreck, is sent to woo Olivia for Duke Orsino, with whom Viola falls in love, while Olivia falls in love with Cesario/Viola — exploring desire, disguise, identity, and the arbitrary nature of love.
A 1989 comedy by John Hughes in which a slovenly bachelor uncle is tasked with looking after his suburban Chicago nieces and nephew, creating comic culture clash.
American comedian and storyteller — Moth Story Slam winner — author — who performs at The Moth and other storytelling venues.
NBC's sitcom about a gay man and his straight female best friend — one of the first mainstream American sitcoms to have gay lead characters — credited with shifting American public opinion on gay rights more than any other media.
Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky's comedy podcast — one of the longest-running and most culturally influential comedian podcasts, known for building a highly specific comedy subculture around shared language and running bits.
American actor and filmmaker known for Scrubs and his directorial debut Garden State — a touchstone film for millennial identity and malaise — whose work engages with themes of purpose, loss, and emotional authenticity.
Charlie Chaplin was a pivotal figure in the silent film era, embodying the struggles and hopes of the working class through his iconic character, the 'Little Tramp', and pioneering cinematic techniques that continue to influence filmmakers today.
Roseanne Barr is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and television producer whose working-class sitcom Roseanne (1988-1997, revived 2018) was groundbreaking in its frank portrayal of blue-collar American family life. Known for her abrasive, politically incorrect persona and later controversial social media activity.
American animated satirical TV series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone — debuted 1997 on Comedy Central — set in the fictional Colorado town of South Park — featuring four elementary school boys — the most sustained, incisive, and equal-opportunity satirical television series in American broadcast history.