Comedian
This article is about the small-artist profession. For the 2000 Swiss film, see Comedians (film); for the Bavarian comedy series, see The Comedians.
Comedian is a redirect to this article. For other meanings, see Comedian (disambiguation).
A comedian (from comedy) is an artist who has made it his goal or profession to make fellow human beings laugh mimically, gesturally or linguistically. There are therefore comedians in all artistic genres, including music and painting.
Among other things, comedians are also people who, for example, as (co-)creators of a film, a series or a show in the comedy field of the frequent activity. Likewise, there are musical artists who publish humorous pieces of music and are called comedians. Puppeteers, ventriloquists, impersonators or mimes are especially known for using comedy in the practice of their art.
Derived from this in theatre is the role subject (for example: "comic old woman", "young comedian"), in film called comic relief.
The term is also sometimes used derogatorily when someone distinguishes himself by ridiculous suggestions or actions.
Two comedians
Neighboring terms
A comedian in the circus is called a clown. However, most clowns (in contrast to the comedian in vaudeville or on stage) do not speak in the circus, but appear funny through their actions.
A cabaret artist is (also) a comedian who presents political messages or criticizes political or social processes in a humorous way (cf. the Cabaret of Comedians of 1924). However, this connection does not apply reciprocally. Thus, the fact that a cabaret artist can be a comedian does not at all mean that the comedian is also a cabaret artist. The cabaret and the comic differ in many respects. Differentiating criteria here can be, for example, the type of jokes and the substance of the content.
Stand-up comedy, on the other hand, is more about personal situations that are presented in close contact and dialogue with the audience. In this context, the term comedian, which is the English translation of the word comedian, has become more widespread in German-speaking countries in recent years.
Comedian is on the one hand used synonymously with comedian, in particular it is the term for actors of roles of the comedic genre.
Authors who write humorous texts are called humorists.
