Charlie Todds Speech Improve Everywhere: An Analysis and Review - Essay Example

Section/# Improv Everywhere: An Analysis and Review Whereas many of the TED talks were concentric upon weighty matters of concern for the environment, science, technology, education, and other matters, Charlie Todd’s speech with regards to his group “Improv Everywhere” integrates with the listener a much more jovial approach to society and the means by which individuals relate with one another. As a means of understanding the speakers approach, this particular essay will focus upon a brief summary and analysis as well as discussion of the tactics employed by Charlie Todd and seeking to analyze whether the author agrees or disagrees with such tactics and based upon what grounds. It is the hope of this author that such a level of analysis will help the reader to integrate a more solid understanding and integration with the approach that Charlie Todd takes and whether or not such an approach is applicable within society and if so – to what degree. Furthermore, the analysis will seek to determine whether or not Todd’s approach is necessarily right or wrong. Ultimately, Charlie Todd moved to New York City as a means of kick starting an acting career. Seeing that entering the entertainment industry in New York City was much harder than he had anticipated, Todd sought to begin improv performances at various locations throughout New York as a means of integrating such a level of active acting participation directly with society; who he believed were ultimately the target market for any acting that takes place. In such a way, the “Improv Everywhere” group was born. As Todd relates, the group, which was ultimately born out of a single member, Todd, began to exhibit such performances in a participatory framework so that other individuals could readily join in. It can and should be noted that this level of participation allows for Todd to continue to spread the interest and fascination with improv comedy that he was able to so effectively expound to the audience. In a way, this level of integration with the larger group and allowing them to participate in his inspirations is not unlike the way in which a teacher who is passionate concerning a given topic will seek to integrate the topic with students. Accordingly, the overall level of passion that Todd brings to the performances is ultimately infectious and helps to engage fellow shareholders within the participatory nature of his improv. A fact that strikes the viewer as odd in an ear that is so typically driven by greed and the level of money that any form of leisure or entertainment can ultimately be defined by. The joining activity which Todd relates to the viewer is ultimately the very crux of the point that he is trying to make. Rather than merely exhibiting a series of funny videos and situations to elicit a few laughs, the participatory nature of the entire experience is, according to Todd, what helps it to all make sense and be funny not only to the onlookers but also to the participants. This strikes at a central issue which helps to differentiate what Todd and his group do as compared to so many comedians within the current system. Whereas the comedian is interested in making people laugh by integrating them with jokes and/or funny situations, Todd’s improv allows both the participant and the recipient of the situation to realize and appreciate the funny and/or amusing aspects of what is taking place. Whereas Todd wanted to begin his career in New York City as an actor integrating with a traditional audience, he relates to the viewer the sudden and rather unexpected means by which this dream transformed in order to reveal his true talents and interest in the improve groups he was able to establish and direct. With regards to an analysis and statement of agreement with regards to the actions undertaken by Charlie Todd, it is the belief of this author that the improv group is ultimately a highly positive idea. Firstly, it allows individuals who would otherwise be hapless bystanders to take an active and participatory role in something that not only is humorous but also has the added benefit of incorporating society as a whole into whatever scheme is currently under development. Although it is difficult to see any negative aspects of such a group, it can be said that due to the fact that many of his improvisations are conducted in areas that are typically meant for business or transit, certain entities may find these disruptive at best and against the law at worst. For instance, the Best Buy scenario prompted the store management to call in the police as a means of ejecting the participants. Although the surprise of the moment is one of the most integral factors in realizing a degree of improvisation genius, such a level of disregard for the disruption of business or the means by which more seriously minded individuals might view this should necessarily prompt Todd to pick the locations for his performances a bit more thoughtfully. Ultimately, Charlie Todd’s talk helped to integrate with this student the broader understanding that humor in life does not always need to be a unidirectional activity. Whereas the traditional understanding of humor and comedy has for so long been concentric upon the comedian or the performer presenting humor to a static audience, Todd’s approach creates and appreciates humor both from the sense of those within the participatory framework as well as those from outside who are viewing with curiosity the performance that is taking place. In short, Todd’s approach is both novel and ingenious as it provides a way to engage the maximum number of individuals and make the performance something of a participatory endeavor. As he notes, this level of participation is ultimately what gives the improv its greatest level of hilarity and comedic effect. By bypassing the typical and traditional level of understanding that the entertainer has with his/her audience, Todd is able to create a much more varied and participatory definition of modern improvisation. Work Consulted Todd, Charlie. “Improv Everywhere” TED Talks. 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