People keeping track of what’s funny in China will often bring up the name of Guo Degang, one of the most popular comedians in the country right now. Guo is particularly interesting to me because he is a Xiangsheng artist, and is perhaps single-handedly responsible for keeping the art form firmly in the public eye. […]
Bilingual Improvised Musicals and Filipino Poetry
April 21, 2013 by
(Note: Video at the bottom!) The past two weeks have been an amazing experience as Beijing Improv hosted the International Improv Festival. Troupes from all over the world, from Beijing to Shanghai, Tokyo to Istanbul, Xiamen to Hong Kong, Manila to Melbourne, all descended on Beijing to share their thoughts on improv, lead workshops, and […]
LaughBeijing has a facebook page!
April 20, 2013 by
I love the stuff that I put on this blog, and I want to find a way to spread it even farther, and faster. It’s like that desire everyone has to spread the bird flu — unconscious and inexorable. Oh wait. You mean we’re not supposed to spread the bird flu? That’s not normal behavior […]
My Journey to an Arts School for Tibetan Orphans Pt. 2
April 15, 2013 by
My Journey to an Arts School for Tibetan Orphans Pt. 2 Second part of my thoughts on my visit to a school for Tibetan orphans. Check the previous post for part 1! 4 16 13
My Journey to an Arts School for Tibetan Orphans Pt. 1
April 15, 2013 by
My Journey to an Arts School for Tibetan Orphans Pt. 1 A piece of mine published on World Of Chinese about a journey outside of Beijing to visit a school for Tibetan orphans. A bit more somber tone than normal, but hopefully still an interesting read. Part 2 will also be published on this blog! […]
Laughing, failing, learning – LIFE – BEIJING – Globaltimes.cn
April 15, 2013 by
Laughing, failing, learning – LIFE – BEIJING – Globaltimes.cn The Global Times has written an article about Improv in Beijing, and I have a quote in here too! They also took the title from my improv mantra of never fearing failure, and trying to fail better every time! 4 15 13
Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, and Western Comedy in China
April 13, 2013 by
Recently there has been a buzz about The Daily Show racking up huge views in China. Some of the China-related segments have made their way over to Youku and other video sites, and people are wondering: what does this mean for the future of satire in China? Satire, despite what you might hear elsewhere, is […]
April 13, 2013 by
tumblr_ml6bcqq21W1re2pq7 Fulbright scholar Jesse Appell went to China to study the tradition of Chinese stand-up comedy. But after he made a spoof video of Psy’s megahit, “Gangnam Style” which he called “Laowai Style” he found himself at the center of his own comedy. Anchor, Marco Werman interviews Appell about his brush with censorship and celebrity […]
http://www.laughbeijing.com/2013/04/13/fulbright-scholar-jesse-appell-went-to-china-to/
Octogroupies
April 12, 2013 by
Yesterday an article I wrote for the PBS Economics blog was posted online. I’m not sure how many people are simultaneously interested in silly videos, China, and economics, but for those in that butter zone perhaps the article went over well. Or is the readership different entirely? I always wonder: who is it that reads […]
PBS Economics Blog: Self-Censorship
April 11, 2013 by
Jesse weighs in on the role of self-censorship in Chinese media