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Indonesian Comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono Discusses Cultural Differences in Stand-Up Comedy in US
Indonesian comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono shared his experiences rebuilding his career in the United States. He highlighted the cultural differences in humor and audience reception between Indonesia and the US, realizing that simply translating material was not enough. He is currently on a US tour, continuing his new challenge.
Pandji Pragiwaksono, a renowned comedian in Indonesia, has discussed the differences in stand-up comedy culture between Indonesia and the United States in a recent interview regarding his career rebuilding journey in the US. Having previously performed for tens of thousands of audience members in Indonesia, he is now restarting his career from open mic stages in New York. Pragiwaksono is set to embark on his first English-language stand-up tour, scheduled to begin on August 26 in Australia, followed by dates in the United States and Canada. In the interview, he revealed that he has learned a great deal about the differences in comedy styles between Indonesia and the US, ranging from material construction to audience characteristics. "I haven't made money in the US yet," said Pandji Pragiwaksono, adding, "The next tour will change my financial situation." One of his biggest lessons has been that material that was successful in Indonesian does not simply translate to English. He initially thought he could just translate his existing material, but his stage experiences made him realize that the sense of humor in both countries has fundamental differences. According to Pragiwaksono, Indonesian audiences tend to enjoy longer storytelling before reaching the main punchline. "Indonesia loves storytelling. A lot of comedy material has a long setup before reaching a big punchline, with a small punchline in the middle," he explained. In contrast, he noted that the rhythm of comedy in New York is much faster, stating, "People in New York want setup, punchline, setup, punchline." Through his life in the US, Pragiwaksono has learned about American social behavior and the dynamics of parent-child relationships, which have become material for new jokes. He also became aware of various stereotypes associated with Florida. Initially, Pragiwaksono experienced an identity crisis as a comedian in the US. He tried to create material on current issues but felt that many other comedians were doing the same. Ultimately, he decided to differentiate himself from other comedians in America by incorporating stories about Indonesia into his act. Source: Liputan6
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Liputan6