Webinar Speaker :
Shehzad Ghias, Comedian & Podcaster
Akbar Chaudry, Comedian & Musician
Younis B. Azeem, Comedian & Writer
Shehrzade Noor, Comedian & Activist
Mavra Bari. Comedian, Sociologist & Writer
Sehar Tariq. Comedian & Feminist
Comedy is a multi-million dollar industry the world over, with artists selling out arenas such as the TMobile, O2, and MGM Grand on a regular basis – events that hundreds of thousands attend to let loose, share a laugh, and just have a good time. In Pakistan, this phenomenon seems to have slowly been pushed out of the mainstream over the years, particularly after the political turmoil of the 1980s. This webinar aims to initiate a discussion on the potential of comedy as a driver of joy, shaper of culture, and catalyst for socioeconomic prosperity – and to debunk myths surrounding the topic, including the notion that those who engage are fools, misfits, heretics, incompetents, etc. Comedy has historically served crucial purposes, including as a tool for challenging the status quo, for bringing definition to societal values and norms, and for creating a platform upon which a variety of arts – including theater, music, film, and storytelling – can all come together to captivate audiences that can forget about their troubles for a while. How can Pakistan facilitate its comedians, especially in a time of disruptive digital media technologies that are reshaping the landscape?
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