Ancap comedy brainstorming

[Moriartis]

Ok, so I was a very amateur stand up comic a while back and I have recently switched to ancap philosophy and I want to gear my comedy towards it. What I would like to do is a brainstorming session on different philosophical points/ideas that are the core of voluntaryism. The way I write comedy is that I start with points I want to make and come up with funny/poignant analogies I can use to illustrate said points. Since I am much newer to the philosophy than I'm sure a lot of you are, I would greatly appreciate any sum ups you can do of major points in the philosophy. Also, I LOVE historical tidbits that illustrate/back up a point. I've done a great deal of research into the CIA/FBI(which is what freed me of my delusions) and I love comedy that educates with historical fact/looking at history outside the box, so if you have anything to add in that regard I would love it.

I'll list some points off the top of my head.

collectivism = bigotry and nonsense, i.e. racism

states = lines drawn on maps, they have no real meaning

countries = tax farms

taxation = extortion/protection money

negotiating contracts = voluntary

socialism = violence and coercion

laws = opinions backed with guns

constitution = piece of paper

government = mafia

government = unaccountable

democracy = pipe dream

theory v. practice, the importance of history in forming opinions on social structures

FBI = Nazi Gestapo

CIA = Terrorist training camps

Alright, that's all I've got for now. Please feel free to add your contributions.

[Randsrazor]

Good luck, if you can fuse two of your passions you will indeed be powerful.

[Nathan T_ Freeman]

What feedback could I provide that would motivate you to chase this dream with your whole heart? I think there is a great opportunity right now for comedy that pokes at hegemonic power. Some random thoughts...

1) You mentioned Stanhope in another thread. I find him absolutely hilarious and EVERY person I've shared his YouTube clips with agrees. His observations on the absurdity of government are not fringe. People get it.

2) While Carlin is widely regarded as a brilliant comic, one thing that isn't widely known is how much effort he put into his craft. Research anything you can find on his process. He was deliberately subtle and poignant at the same time. He was never openly anarchistic because he wasn't trying to design a system; he was just trying to mock the one that was already there. This resonated with audiences for 30+ years.

3) One of the reasons that Stefan is successful with FDR is because he's funny. He's not successful standup comic funny, but he's got a quick wit and a great sense of irony that, coupled with his flair for dramatic language, makes him a great improviser. Listen to his podcasts with an ear on both the meaning and the delivery because if you can turn up the humor dial while sustaining the truth dial, you will be amazing.

4) One of Carlin's great lessons is that everything is funny. He even made jokes about rape. (It was very difficult for him to do it; he took it as a great personal challenge.) Religion is fucking hilarious. The State is even more hilarious. Schools and parents are completely absurd. Everyone knows this and almost none of them admit it. Play those strings and people will trail along.

5) My favorite example of a mainstream comic unknowingly promoting a pro-freedom idea is Louis C.K. (Well, he knowingly promoted it with his "pay what you want" album recently.) He has this bit where he talks about yelling at his daughter and having this realization: "I am her first asshole." He didn't finisht the thought with story about what he did differently, but I really think that someone with a clearer sense of philosophy could have.

6) Remember that every joke doesn't have to be about philosophy. You can say something that's just funny, even if it isn't about the fundamental philosophy of freedom. Don't obsess and don't constrain your creativity.

7) The internet is your friend. You can test drive material in your living room with a cell phone and a YouTube account. I promise you that people on YouTube will not hold back from giving you their most direct criticism. :-) If you can establish some emotional separation from your material, it's a great testing surface. Just remember that negative feedback can be about theme, content, or delivery -- and you shouldn't assume any particular one of those. The audience is unlikely to know which they are reacting to.

That's all for now. Please, please, please pursue this idea. I really want to see it in practice!

[lyghtningrod]

I'm reminded of Will Rogers:

"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts."

pointing out government foibles and outrages can be effective

 

[Summerstone]

Too much bitterness and swearing in Doug Stanhope for me, personally.

 

I think it's absolutely hilarious to take all these wonderful gems you learn from studying philosophy (the NAP, atheism, anarchism) and turn them on their head. I mean, to misrepresent anarchism while letting the audience know with a wink that you're actually hip to what it's actually about. I get a tickle out of pretending to hedge people into unchosen positive obligations even when they know I'm the first person that would not do this. More than anything to act in direct contradiction to my values in a way that is clearly joking and is at no one else's expense. It cracks me up!

[Summerstone]

I think an example or two might make my last post sound a little more sane.

One example is to tell people that my bedroom is my domain and that my rules are enforced there (like a tax farm).

Or another is to proclaim loudly that there "Ough to be a law!" when some injustice presents itself to me.

Lastly, to simply say whatever a part is telling me to say if they're in a jokey mood. To essentially be like, "Okay, funny part. Here's the seat of Truth, tell some jokes!"

[Randsrazor]

I'm gonna check out Doug Stanhope, thanks thread.