What Stand-Up Comedy Brings to Young Chinese People

On July 5th, a Chinese stand-up comedy show titled “Applied Imagination” was held at Tempio del Futuro Perduto, located at Via Luigi Nono 7 in Milan. This 90-minute comedy performance was headlined by Wang Lu and Lao Jiang. Having already staged successful shows in Spain (Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona) and the UK (Manchester, London), they will proceed to Frankfurt, Germany, for the final stop of their European Chinese stand-up comedy tour after concluding their performance in Milan.

A European Tour of Chinese Comedy: Applied Imagination

The name “Applied Imagination” originates from Wang Lu’s master’s program, MA Applied Imagination. She believes that imagination is essential in every aspect of life, such as visualizing scenarios when listening to others describe their lives, applying creativity in inventions, or even using imagination to find the humor in their performances. Wang Lu has participated in China’s renowned comedy show “Rock & Roast” twice, achieving commendable results. Her partner, Lao Jiang, is the curator of the Chinese comedy project “Surprise Comedy” and boasts extensive experience in stand-up comedy performances.

This performance by Wang Lu and Lao Jiang was meticulously crafted through a series of stages involving excitement, frustration, arguments, moments of clarity, and renewed confidence. The content of their stand-up routine was drawn from their real-life experiences. Through sharp observations of life, they ignited the stage with their unique style and humorous language, eliciting continuous laughter and applause from the audience. After the show, Wang Lu conducted a performance art experiment, inviting the audience to stick different colored paper pieces on her body. Each attendee received a delightful small gift—temporary tattoos themed around “Applied Imagination.”

Milan Stand-Up Comedy Club

The saying “Everyone can be a five-minute stand-up comedian” is widely popular in the comedy community, inspiring people from various professions to showcase their talents. Increasingly, stand-up comedians use positive and humorous “bits” to jest about the troubles of work and life. This stand-up comedy show was made possible with the support of the Milan Stand-Up Comedy Club. Club members Li Qibao, Poyu, and Ahua also participated in this performance. Drawing from their experiences in Italy, they expressed their viewpoints with humorous language, resonating with the audience.

According to the organizer Axi, the Milan Stand-Up Comedy Club was founded in May 2023 and is Italy’s first Chinese stand-up comedy club. Upholding the spirit of “a happy life, entertaining oneself and others” and “openness, inclusiveness,” they welcome all comedians to join. The club is dedicated to promoting Chinese stand-up comedy, aiming to introduce more people to this industry. They regularly exchange experiences with stand-up comedy clubs and enthusiasts worldwide. Since its establishment, the club has held 16 performances, attracting over 700 attendees. Axi jokingly remarked, “Our greatest achievement so far is that we haven’t gone out of business!”

Young Chinese People Love Stand-Up Comedy

Originally used in Western countries for political expression and often combined with talk shows, the form of stand-up comedy in China differs slightly. It sometimes resembles stand-up comedy more closely, focusing on performers’ personal experiences and expressions. Amid a society with diverse values, Chinese stand-up comedy centers on social hot topics, using humorous and entertaining formats to alleviate social anxiety and stress, thereby gaining significant cultural influence.

In recent years, stand-up comedy venues have become popular new destinations for young Chinese people, creating a new social atmosphere for gatherings with friends. The content of stand-up comedy often covers social hot topics such as workplace life, marriage and relationships, appearance anxiety, housing issues, and fandom culture, providing young people with ample conversation material. In China, a popular internet term, “internet spokesperson,” refers to those who can articulate their feelings accurately online. Stand-up comedians often speak out about the frustrations people face in the workplace, make self-deprecating jokes about personal experiences, and sketch out life’s moments. While jokes and punchlines are the surface, shared or similar experiences are the core.

“Expressing Oneself” and “Finding Oneself”

Chinese stand-up comedy is an interesting form of communication, generally in the first-person perspective, starting from personal experiences, and expressed humorously. It injects joy into young people’s daily lives, even during tough times, providing short-term stress relief and a kind of mental healing. Young people need stand-up comedy, or rather, they need comedy that is close to life. On the stage, comedians discuss life’s shortcomings and embarrassments with humor, using self-mockery and banter to dissolve pain. This allows the audience to relate to their own struggles, eliciting emotional resonance. Ordinary audience members find comfort in knowing they are not alone in their experiences. The comedians on stage are “expressing themselves,” while the audience finds themselves in laughter.

Young Chinese people’s growing need for sensory entertainment and emotional release is reflected in their enthusiasm for comedy. On one hand, they seek to relieve stress and heal anxiety through laughter; on the other hand, they hope to reconcile with life and gain strength and courage through laughter. Furthermore, stand-up comedy helps promote public reflection on contemporary social issues in a unique way.

Humor is Medicine

In the “Outline of Comedy,” comedy is described as “an imitation of a ridiculous, flawed action of some length…it evokes pleasure and laughter to release these emotions.” In a time when anxiety is prevalent, young people, despite their continued efforts, may still struggle to overcome difficulties. They learn to use self-deprecation and humor as a remedy for their emotions. By humorously exposing flaws, they achieve self-reconciliation through self-mockery. Additionally, humor fosters a sense of belonging and recognition, creating interactions with others in similar situations, finding countless versions of themselves. In this collective action, young people find a temporary refuge from mundane life. Humor is the medicine for a dull life.