Interview · moment 9 of 16
Is Comedy Actually Important? The Horror Movie Comparison
from An Exotic Beast · #131
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
6 minGuest
Zinoman presses Tim on whether he really believes comedy is unimportant given he's dedicated his life to it, drawing a parallel to horror films and transgression, arguing comedy can do damage but also give meaning, while Tim insists politics/culture matter more.
- 26:59Tim argues against the idea that comedy is important, challenging the notion that comedians should accept this premise.
- 27:32Nobody has ever committed a hate crime because they heard a joke, Tim claims, questioning whether comedy bears moral responsibility.
- 27:52People have dedicated their lives to competitive dance and it's not important—Tim uses the analogy to push back on elevating comedy's significance.
- 28:22The guest proposes a logical choice: either comedy is important and deserves scrutiny, or it's frivolous escapism for blue married ladies.
- 28:43Tim shifts his actual position, saying he does think comedy is important, and compares it to horror films as an art form that can meaningfully affect people.
- 29:29Watching amoral horror films raises the question of whether they do damage, even if Tim hasn't killed anyone—he applies the same standard to both mediums.
- 29:55Tim insists he genuinely believes comedy is important and suspects he could argue the guest into conceding the same.
- 30:20Culture matters more than anything, Tim states, disagreeing that politics is the only thing of value.
- 30:33Pushing subversive comedy out of the mainstream forces it into toxic corners of the internet; you need a broad public sphere where people can be offensive.
- 31:14The guest says Tim is already making an argument for why comedy is important by invoking the public sphere and the need to explore ideas.
- 31:46Live comedy audiences go to clubs, have drinks, see a show, go home and forget it—Tim questions whether it's really a place where people seek philosophy or life advice.