‘Maybe everybody feels socially awkward’: the standups turning being autistic into a comedy superpower
‘Maybe everybody feels socially awkward’: the standups turning being autistic into a comedy superpower
From Fern Brady to Hannah Gadsby, a host of comedians have discovered that they are autistic. What is it about standup that lends itself so well to neurodivergent people?
'Guardian' article on autistic standup comedians
Having not read the article (I know, breaking Rule #__ of The Internet ;-P)...
It doesn't surprise me that some autists are drawn to doing stand-up. Having seen the documentary "Misery Loves Comedy," comedians often use stand-up as a way of processing chronic mental health issues or other forms of divergence.
I could never do it myself, I have to stim like crazy just to (barely) make it through a phone/video call, without the pressure of actually being funny...not to mention that anytime I say something that I think is funny, I'm often the only person that actually laughs. lol
I feel like being on stage mainly takes practice. When I'm on stage, that's what I hyperfocus on. You can plan out and rehearse so many things ahead of time, since you actually receive much less direct feedback, which could disrupt your flow of thought, than in a phone call.
To add: If your brand of autism comes with echolalia and mimicry, then you are probably like me in that you have pulled funny facial expressions and manners of speech from other people and popular media throughout your life. And if, like me, you happen to have had low self-worth throughout your life as a side effect of the social awkwardness that autism yields, then you might use your echolalia and mimicry to your advantage by being "the funny one".
It's a mask, to be sure, but it's had it's advantages. I'm in my mid-40s now, and multiple people have told me I'm the funniest person they've ever met. I've long felt like I'd kill it as a stand-up, but my hyperfixations haven't yet led me in that direction.
taking certain things literally as opposed to figuratively – it doesn’t mean you can’t understand jokes because there are plenty of completely literal jokes.
I also think one shouldn't underestimate the ability to mask.
For example, for many years, I had to prevail among pubescent boys and picking out all the innuendoes out of innocent sentences was a surefire way to make them laugh.So, to some people, I look completely prudent, because I'm in literal mode. Whereas when I'm among people with a pubescent humor, those innuendo-listening brain regions go online and I can easily be the person that finds the most double entendres.
Yey, we're society's outmost sensory system. I mean we do get to see the world for what it is. And then have the honour to tell folks on the inside how is it out there.