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Author Talk: Not Funny with Jena Friedman

2023-05-10 17:00:00 2023-05-10 18:00:00 America/Los_Angeles Author Talk: Not Funny with Jena Friedman Growing up, Academy Award Nominated Jena Friedman didn’t care about being likable or a comedian. A 90s child, she wouldn’t discover her knack for the funny business until research for her college thesis led her to take an improv class in Chicago. Virtual Program -

Wednesday, May 10
5:00pm - 6:00pm

Add to Calendar 2023-05-10 17:00:00 2023-05-10 18:00:00 America/Los_Angeles Author Talk: Not Funny with Jena Friedman Growing up, Academy Award Nominated Jena Friedman didn’t care about being likable or a comedian. A 90s child, she wouldn’t discover her knack for the funny business until research for her college thesis led her to take an improv class in Chicago. Virtual Program -

Growing up, Academy Award Nominated Jena Friedman didn’t care about being likable or a comedian. A 90s child, she wouldn’t discover her knack for the funny business until research for her college thesis led her to take an improv class in Chicago.

That anthropology paper, written on race, class, and gender in the city’s comedy scene, was, in Jena’s own words, “just as funny as it sounds.” But it did lay the groundwork for a career that has seen her write and produce for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the Late Show with David Letterman, and the Oscar nominated Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.

Friedman’s debut collection, Not Funny, takes on the third rails of modern life in Jena’s bold and subversive style, with essays that explore cancel culture, sexism, work, celebrity worship, and…dead baby jokes.

In a moment where women’s rights are being rolled back, fascism is on the rise, and so many of us could use a breather as we struggle to get by, Jena applies her unique gifts to pull a laugh from things deemed too raw, too precious, and too scary to joke about. She shares her stories of taking on those who told her she was too brash, too edgy, and too “unlikable” to make it. She deftly dissects how we get coerced into silence on the issues that matter most, until they’ve gone too far afield to be turned back around again. And she shares her struggles to make it (-ish) in a world that, more often than not, would rather tune out than listen to a woman confronting the indignities we’ve been told to bear.

About the Author: Jena Friedman is a comedian, filmmaker, and creator of AMC’s Indefensible and Soft Focus with Jena Friedman on Adult Swim. She has worked on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Late Show with David Letterman, and her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, ARTNET, and The Guardian. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and won a Writer’s Guild of America award for her work on Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. She splits her time between Los Angeles and New York. Find out more at JenaFriedman.com and follow her on Twitter @JenaFriedman. 

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Theatre, Film, & Media | Entertainment |

TAGS: | Virtual Program | Author Talk |

Virtual Program


Hours
We're closed Monday May 26
Mon, May 26 Closed
Tue, May 27 7:00AM to 6:00PM
Wed, May 28 7:00AM to 6:00PM
Thu, May 29 7:00AM to 6:00PM
Fri, May 30 7:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, May 31 7:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Jun 01 7:00AM to 6:00PM

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This is a virtual location. No events are held at this address.

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Wed, May 28, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Get the most out of you LA County Library card! In this virtual event you will learn about PressReader our free magazine and newspaper app and learn how to stream and download music with Freegal.
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Sat, May 31, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Learn the essentials of sewing in this series designed for beginners! Learn how to hem, alter, and upcycle your clothes. Each session will focus on a practical skills to give your wardrobe a custom fit and a 2nd life. No prior experience needed!
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Thu, Jun 05, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Join us in welcoming Ruby Warrington, author of “Sober Curious,” as she sits down with LA County Librarian, Skye Patrick, for a nonjudgmental discussion around alcohol consumption, wellness, and moving through our lives with more intention.
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Sat, Jun 07, 11:00am - 11:30am
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Mon, Jun 16, 11:30am - 12:00pm
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Tue, Jun 17, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Have you ever wondered why do we eat red foods on Juneteenth? Come learn about the tradition linked to the historical significance of the holiday, the cultural symbolism of the color & some great recipes to add to your Juneteenth celebration menu.
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