Joke Craft
A Joke’s Hidden Contract: Why the Setup Matters
A joke’s setup earns its turn by teaching the audience what to expect, so the punchline feels surprising, clear, and…
The full collection
All pieces
Explore comedy through the choices that shape a joke, a character, a performance or a tradition. Each piece takes one question at a time and gives readers a clear way to think it through.
Characters
Deadpan or Animated: Two Routes to Comic Character
Deadpan or animated comic character choices shape what audiences watch, from a still face and clipped gesture to…
Performance
The Quiet Beat Before a Punchline
The quiet beat before a punchline can sharpen anticipation or flatten a joke. Learn three timing approaches and choose…
Comedy History
From Monologue to Microphone: How Comic Address Changed Across Media
From monologue to microphone, trace how theater, radio, television, and stand-up shaped comic address—and learn what…
Forms
A Sketch Night That Leaves Room to Breathe
Plan a sketch night that leaves room to breathe with flexible scene clusters, simple transitions, and clear cues…
Our point of view
Comedy rewards close attention.
A laugh can arrive in an instant; the choices behind it are worth taking slowly. We look at comedy with curiosity, without treating one taste or response as universal.