Comedy In The Time Of Tragedy

And the sentiments of an experienced comedian on the present and the future state of the local comedy industry

- Jules Vivas

Comedy is more meaningful than just entertainment. The genre, as defined by Aristotle, is to hold a mirror up to society to reflect its vices and follies, in the hopes that they will be mended. The Greek philosopher not only found corrective purpose in comedy, he also thought it was generally positive for society as it brought forth happiness, which for him was the ideal state, the goal for any activity. Comedy, of course, is also meant to help us humans cope with the difficulties of living. It is therapeutic, offering a way to have a better time around things which, otherwise, feel pretty tragic—say war, a pandemic, or even everyday life itself.

Likewise, the late professor Robert R. Provine, a leading expert on laughter, conclude that “laughter is primarily a social vocalization that binds people together.” Laughter is a shared social signal that, from an evolutionary standpoint, allows us to connect with one another, something essential in this era of social distancing. In isolation, a joke could be the warmest blanket or the most reliable shield. Now more than ever, humanity is in need of comedy.

Diving into the topic of comedy even further, we are led to ask: What is the current state of comedy in the Philippines considering that the world today is faced with so many uncertainties? Red Ollero, an established name in the local comedy industry, answers.