Understanding Humor and Cartoons at The New Yorker

The video discusses the challenges of maintaining humor in The New Yorker, highlighting the difficulty of finding authentic humor compared to other editorial tasks. It mentions the rarity of high-level humor and notable contributors like Saul Steinberg and David Sedaris. The process of selecting cartoons is explained, emphasizing collaboration with the cartoon editor. The video also addresses the challenges faced by young cartoonists, including financial difficulties and the allure of more lucrative careers.

What is considered one of the hardest things to sustain at The New Yorker?

• Humor

• Fashion reviews

• Investigative journalism

• Political commentary

Who did the narrator have a conversation with about the difficulty of humor?

• Harold Ross

• David Sedaris

• Bob Manof

• Roger Angel

What is humor at The New Yorker compared to in terms of difficulty?

• Foreign correspondence

• Writing a novel

• Editing a magazine

• Creating a documentary

Which famous humorist is mentioned as an example of high-level humor?

• Harold Ross

• Saul Steinberg

• Ros Chast

• Bruce Eric Kaplan

Who is involved in the cartoon selection process at The New Yorker?

• Harold Ross

• Roger Angel

• Bob Manof

• David Sedaris

What is a significant challenge in finding new cartoonists?

• Lack of creativity

• High competition

• Financial instability

• Limited audience

What do many potential cartoonists choose instead of pursuing cartooning?

• Teaching

• More lucrative careers

• Writing novels

• Traveling

Which cartoonist is mentioned as having a career in Hollywood?

• Bruce Eric Kaplan

• Ros Chast

• Saul Steinberg

• David Sedaris

What is Ros Chast known for besides her work in cartoons?

• Political commentary

• Art and humor world contributions

• Writing novels

• Teaching art

What is a common reason for the difficulty in sustaining humor at The New Yorker?

• Limited publication space

• Lack of audience interest

• High standards of humor

• Insufficient funding