In a world shaped by digital alienation, which feels increasingly unstable, Kate Berlant finds solace in stand-up.
Sure, she says, “the consequences of us leading an online life” are manifold and “will f*ck us up in ways we’ll never understand.” The career ladder that existed for comics when she was starting out has largely collapsed amid continuing show biz consolidation, while AI has begun ripping off jokes that stand-ups have devoted blood, sweat and tears to cultivating.
Still, however troubling our times and technology may be, there’s beauty to be found in art and the community that grows around
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