So you think you know more than Del Close, do you?

[York99]

Yeah, he’s only a GURU of improv.

Every book about improv, every article about nearly every comedian over the last thirty years demonstrates how pervasive Del was in shaping their styles and, by extension, the landscape of comedy in the modern era.

Del’s life work was the Harold. He believed in the Harold like it was a religion in itself. You all know the list of famous people who studied under Del. Even though most comedic material out there does not look like a Harold, you bet your sweet bippy (a phrase popularized by another notorious Harold – Harold York, my father) that the influence is there.

On JULY FIRST from 1-4pm I am teaching a workshop on the Harold – from philosophy through form. The class is geared toward people who have not had extensive exposure to the Harold, but anyone who wants a refresher and/or who wants to learn from an outside influence should sign up.

WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE A CLASS FROM JUSTIN YORK?
Much of the evolution of art derives from a series of (often small) rebellions. Del rebelled against the notion that improv was a means to an end of a sketch review. Improv Olympic was born. Many theaters in Chicago – like the Annoyance – came from a slight rebellion of how IO or Second City taught improv. Etc. etc. etc. When people moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, they took what they liked and dropped or improved what they didn’t and they taught me. I moved from Los Angeles (via New Orleans) to Austin and I plan to do the same with how/what I was taught.

Every day until my workshop on July First, I will post one small part of my philosophy on improv and relate it to how the Harold helps in the “Improv Theory & Practiceâ€

[beardedlamb]

Every book about improv, every article about nearly every comedian over the last thirty years demonstrates how pervasive Del was in shaping their styles and, by extension, the landscape of comedy in the modern era.

true, del was very influential, but let's not forget that there are plenty of other innovators out there who were not influenced by del close, some who have even written books. in some ways keith johnstone is the futbol of improv. his influence has reached far into the corners of the world, but he seems to be largely unknown in the states. del is football. keith is futbol. they are both a lot of fun to watch and do.

[shando]

del is football. keith is futbol. they are both a lot of fun to watch and do.

Word, and a better analogy I cannot think of.

[York99]

Of course there are countless other influences, but don't you think I'm long-winded enough? Gotta narrow the focus.

And I was going to use that same quote as Shannon, but follow it by saying how that's proof that JL's argument doesn't hold water.
Too bad I don't know how to do the fancy quote thing.

[shando]

And I was going to use that same quote as Shannon, but follow it by saying how that's proof that JL's argument doesn't hold water.

In what way does JL quote not hold water, and what in the statement itself proves that? I'm confused. I don't mean that to sound snippy, I'd just like to know what your thinking on that count is.

Now, I've never been trained in the Del school, but I've spent enough time around people who have and heard the way they talk about improv issues to think that I've identified the biggest difference between the Del and Keith schools of thought. The Del school, as I see it, places primary focus on the experience the improvisor is having onstage, the way improv itself works. With this focus, the audience is somewhat secondary. In the Keith school, the priorities are reversed. How an improvisor gets to their end result is secondary to creating a thearical event that an audience is compelled to watch, hence Keith greater focus on narrative and story. I've heard some Del people speak as if creating a story or a narrative in the traditional sense were anathema to improv, as if it were limiting to the absolute freedom the improvisor posses on stage. The Keith schoolites (like me) would say the privileging of the absolute freedom of the improvisor doesn't mean jack if the audience isn't compelled to to watch what you're doing.

I don't think there need be any competition in these two models--the Keith school uses the same tools as the Del school does to try to create stage material. But like I said, it does seem the focus is different. This is how I see the contrast anyway. I'd love to hear what other people think about these two differnt camps of improv.

[York99]

Hilarious. I was making a joke at the expense of soccer... having nothing to do with improv. Just like the ugly American I am. You were right to be snippy -- you were just snippy at the wrong thing.

For the record, not knowing enough about the comarisons and contrastisons of Del "versus" Johnstone, I believe that having a show that a PAYING audience will enjoy is very very important.

I enjoy Johnstone's approach as much as I enjoy others who maybe never even heard of Del Close. It's just that I'm teaching a class on the Harold. Very valid conversation to have here, though.

Also for the record, I enjoy the World Cup Soccer er... futbol.

USA USA USA EEUU EEUU EEUU

[shando]

Hilarious. I was making a joke at the expense of soccer... having nothing to do with improv. Just like the ugly American I am. You were right to be snippy -- you were just snippy at the wrong thing.

Nah, I wasn't being snippy, I just don't like feeling dumb when I don't understand what the joke is about, or if there even is a joke, which I still don't get.

As a former resident of Prague, I took secret delight in the Czechs whipping the upstart Americans the other day.

[shando]

I linked to this conversation over in the Impov Theory and discussion section, where I think it's probably more appropos.

[acrouch]

Justin's teaching a class! Yay! Yay Justin's class!

[shando]

Justin's teaching a class! Yay! Yay Justin's class!

And lest it appear otherwise, ditto yay for Justin class! And yay for any class anyone wants to teach, anytime, anywhere, on any approach!

[troy]

Justin, I'm in.

[ratliff]

The class is geared toward people who have not had extensive exposure to the Harold

That would be me, in that I haven't had extensive exposure to anything. I would take this class. In fact, I will. Unless someone tells me not to.