Machiavelli: Prince of Comedy
You could argue that Machiavelli’s entire worldview was comic, but comic in a peculiar way: ironic, wry, a little melancholy, punctuated by an earthy vulgarity that, these days, would get…
Posts by tag
comedy
82 posts
The Saturday Rumpus Essay: Crushed
He’s a cute mensch, I gathered, a cuddly fellow with a well- groomed beard, sad eyes, and, most importantly, a comforting voice that sounded like he was about to either cry or laugh.
The Rumpus Late Nite Poetry Show: Ross Gay
In Episode 9 of The Rumpus Late Nite Poetry Show, Dave Roderick talks with poet Ross Gay chats about his new collection, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, gardening, and "the discipline of joy."
Black and White and Black
Over at the New Yorker, Zadie Smith tackles Key and Peele: The two men are physically incongruous. Key is tall, light brown, dashingly high-cheek-boned, and L.A. fit; Peele is shorter,…
The Rumpus Illustrated Interview with Megan Amram
Comedy writer and Twitter phenomenon Megan Amram talks time-travel, Jewish movie agents, and her new book Science . . . For Her!
Tip of the Hat to Colbert
Among the many tributes to the nine-year run of The Colbert Report, which aired its final episode last week, comes Vulture’s tip of the hat on behalf of “book nerds.”…
The Rumpus Interview With Paul Gilmartin
Paul Gilmartin discusses his podcast, The Mental Illness Happy Hour, how he found his own way into therapy, and the power of sharing shame.
The Rumpus Interview with David Bezmozgis
The Rumpus talks to David Bezmozgis about Israel, making fact into fiction, politics in novels, and his new book, The Betrayers.
Laugh Track
Inconceivably, unexplainably, and, inevitably, thankfully, Bill Cosby’s on tour again. But even off-stage, he’s been there all his life: In 1976, Cosby earned a doctorate in education from the University…
Conversations With Writers Braver Than Me: Samantha Irby
Sari Botton sits down with humorist Samantha Irby to talk sex, family conflicts, and the creative freedom of being an orphan.
Another Unpopular Proverb
Popular novelist Teddy Wayne’s latest entry in his series of proverbs for McSweeney’s is called “Thought.” No, not the deep kind. Read it here.
The Funny Side of Writing
Over at the New Yorker, read an excerpt from Mike Sacks’s upcoming Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today’s Top Comedy Writers. The selection features an interview with George Saunders, in…