So, why do we laugh?

The best comedy is a mixture of pleasure and pain. It’s almost a tight-rope act. My favorite comedians—Louis C.K., Tig Notaro, Sarah Silverman, Jim Jefferies—step over that line, but just enough. You can take pleasure in the cleverness. It feels a bit dangerous and forces us to re-evaluate our perception of things.

5280.com Exclusive: Read more of our Q&A with Joel Warner at 5280.com/humorcode.

This article was originally published in 5280 May 2014.
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.