tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3143724362136202099.post5181051405961450388..comments2024-02-13T14:25:06.949-05:00Comments on the bottlenecked blog: Improvisation Catch-22Harrison Brookiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05372315442336546216noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3143724362136202099.post-5557137427466492062009-10-24T23:51:57.100-04:002009-10-24T23:51:57.100-04:00Good improv takes being clever, having a good memo...Good improv takes being clever, having a good memory, AND making confident choices. I don't think any improviser can get very far without all 3 aspects.<br /><br />Why can't a piece of art be entertaining or entertainment be artful? The best improv I've experienced has been both without being pretentious. When the focus is only on the art, yeah, it becomes pompous and boring. But when there's only a drive for getting a laugh, the audience may never be moved or challenged. Improv needs both.Cherylnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3143724362136202099.post-88378625322924587122009-10-24T23:51:44.788-04:002009-10-24T23:51:44.788-04:00That's more like it. I had a huge discussion w...That's more like it. I had a huge discussion with Jill Bernard this weekend about improv and whether it's more about entertaining or being an intellectual pursuit.<br /><br />The phrasing of: "Maybe for gamey short form, but a well done long form is a peice of art." just seemed a little pompous. I wanted to throw out DSI's idea - which is not at all a pompous approach to long form improvisation.Alyssanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3143724362136202099.post-37448544715918673662009-10-24T23:51:24.816-04:002009-10-24T23:51:24.816-04:00Yeah I see what you're saying Alyssa, but mayb...Yeah I see what you're saying Alyssa, but maybe we have two different definitions of art. Here's what the wise Wikipedia says:<br /><br />"Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions."<br /><br />I would consider any well done comedy (long form, short form, sketch, cartoon) to be art as long as it completes the pattern in an entertaining way. Or as Wiki says "arranges the elements" to appeal to "emotions."Harrison Brookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05372315442336546216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3143724362136202099.post-5119660303399941952009-10-24T23:51:16.409-04:002009-10-24T23:51:16.409-04:00I don't know, Harrison. Not all well-done long...I don't know, Harrison. Not all well-done long forms are pieces of art. Some are just damn funny entertainment. I'd say the philosophy of DSI is more about entertaining people with comedy than creating a "piece of art."<br /><br />Which is the result of pattern, and that stems from being clever and having a good enough memory to bring things back.Alyssanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3143724362136202099.post-68839833889765716122009-10-24T23:50:57.939-04:002009-10-24T23:50:57.939-04:00Maybe for gamey short form, but a well done long f...Maybe for gamey short form, but a well done long form is a peice of art. Although I admit, being clever and having a good memory can get you pretty far.Harrison Brookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05372315442336546216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3143724362136202099.post-74713491943463230202009-10-24T23:50:50.409-04:002009-10-24T23:50:50.409-04:00Despite all my training and reading, sometimes I t...Despite all my training and reading, sometimes I think there might really be nothing more to improv than being clever and having a good memory.Justinhttp://justinis.comnoreply@blogger.com