According to the comedian, stand-up is much more than just telling jokes and 'should be a course in schools'.
Jimmy Carr has offered up an argument for why stand-up should be taught in schools, explaining that stand-up is much more than just telling jokes.
Speaking on the podcast Modern Wisdom, Carr spoke of how
comedy is not just making people laugh, but is rather being yourself, expressing yourself and cleverly crafting language in order to suit your goal.
Speaking on the show, Carr said: “My big thing on stand-up comedy is that I think it should be taught.
"I do think it should be in schools. I think it’s more relevant than music. I think music’s incredibly important but I think stand-up should be a course in schools.
“Think about what it’s about. It’s about verbal dexterity and it’s about being able to express yourself and it’s about finding your voice and expressing who you are and it’s a perspective on life where you’re seeing the lighter side and trying to find fun in something.”
Jimmy Carr thinks ‘stand-up should be taught in schools’ and is ‘more relevant than music’
Carr continued: “There’s two stories. One story is about a guy, sh*tting himself on a train, and it’s just like: ‘Ah I had the worst day ever’. And then there’s some perspective where you go: 'That’s the funniest story I’ve ever heard.'
“There’s something about the ability of a comedian to kind of shift perspectives, and for me comedy has a function in society that no one is calling.
"We’re pushing the Overton window. We’re always at the edge of what is and what isn’t acceptable.”
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