Segment 2 (2021) - Out With the Old Idea

[Paul Terlemezian]

One potential obstacle to an idea might be the idea that is already being implemented - the "Old Idea." With insight from The Daily Drucker (November 10)- might we learn "How to Abandon."

Humorists:

• Carol Burnett
• June Cline   Click on Your Comedic Style to learn about yourself!
• Dean Martin

Panelists:

• Robb Bingham
• Joanne Black
• Vicki Flier Hudson
• Bob Kelner
• Mike Lutzenkirchen

• Anthony Murph (Alternate)

Moderators:

• Andrew Dietz
• Matt Meador

Remarkable Speakers (Listeners:)

• Michelle Prince

[Paul Terlemezian]

I decided to remove the Carol Burnett video and most of the other humor videos related to this conference to increase the potential for objective reactions to the humor "idea." I will connect the names of the entertainers to Wikipedia articles. Here is a quote from the article on Carol Burnett:

In 2005, Burnett was recognized as "one of America's most cherished entertainers" and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom "for enhancing the lives of millions of Americans and for her extraordinary contributions to American entertainment", by President George W. Bush.^[6] In 2013, Burnett was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.^[7] In 2019, the Golden Globes named an award after her for career achievement in television, the Carol Burnett Award, and Burnett received its first award.^[8]

[Paul Terlemezian]

Which comedic styles and comedians from the past might we decide to abandon?

How might we decide to abandon them?

What is likely to happen due to the abandonment?

Might comedy in general be abandoned?

[Andrew Dietz]

To abandon comedy would be an apocalyptic act.  Consider, though, the way stand-up comics develop and continuously refine their material.  It is an "agile" approach in which they take their writing to the stage and let audience reaction to the content and delivery determine how or whether they move forward with a particular joke, story or routine.  But, times change and so do audiences. So, even if they drop a joke from their line-up today, they keep a storehouse of these for later review and possible resurrection. At an even more micro level, comic writers and humorists are reductionists.  Within any one joke or routine, they seek to eliminate any word, intonation or gesture that doesn't add to the joke's impact. The best are like Michelangelo who chiseled away everything that wasn't the sculpture.  Great comics chip away all that doesn't serve the laugh. It seems that these are readily translatable lessons for business and organizational problem solving.

Provocation: It's as much about the editing as it is about the writing. Agree or disagree? Why?

[Paul Terlemezian]

Editing is important - as is the process - as the process (the chipping away) itself might help us design new tools or experience unintended (yet important) outcomes.

[Paul Terlemezian]

Perhaps with comedy as an "art form" we might adopt an anything goes mindset?

Should we destroy/abandon/diminish art from a 1000 years ago - or learn from it - by trying to understand the "truth "of that time vs. the "truth" of the current time?

Is it safe to assume that the "truth" of the current time is always more true than the "truth" of the past?

Does that mean that the "truth" of today will be less true in the future?

[Jerry Sutton]

It's interesting that the F-15E Strike Eagle was once known as the preeminent fighter aircraft on the planet.  But soon, it was an "old idea" and was replaced by the F-22.  In 2011, the F-22 was canceled based on lack of need.  Now it is reportedly going to be replaced by the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter.  All of which come at great cost to the taxpayer.  So is this an old idea resurfacing with improvements?  Something to think about...

 

[Vicki Hudson]

I enjoyed yesterday's discussion!! Thanks to everyone in my breakout group and to Paul for organizing this amazing event!