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Books TV Shows Movies And Even A Few Stop Motion Animations That Illustrate The Tragicomedy Genre Perfectly
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items And maybe a few other pieces of pop culture in case you want to rather than read your tragicomedy
Do we think David Sedaris is a great guy? Based on some of what he writes, kind of, um no. But also he admits that he's not exactly trying to be a great guy. But his tragic/comedy writing is almost legendary, so definitely worth a read!
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls a book by David Sedaris
Yes, this is my own substack what's your point? This started as the first funny content I wrote about my partner Heather's death. I performed it a blogging series right after someone did a naked Go Go dance. So perfect timing.
Everyone Cries On The A Train
This is one of my favorite books…not of this genre, but period. It covers a lot of ground and it's hilarious but it also is a bit inspiring. Bamford believes there must be answers to her difficulties and she keeps looking. Reminds me I can keep looki...
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere a book by Maria Bamford
Don't let the silly name fool you (it's ironic I guess?) Crazy Ex Girlfriend is a musical, dancing act of brilliance and hilariously addresses some really hard things. Most prominently these hard things are mental health struggles, but they also cove...
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Season 1
While Crying In The H Mart deals a lot with loss as in loss from death, it's funniest and most poignant when addressing grief that comes from other losses. Including the audio book here because it's amazing and read by the author.
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir
Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt is not a perfect /non problematic series by any means, but it's a great example of pop culture that weaves PTSD symptoms into every day life, which OF COURSE, is where people experience them. My favorite is when Kimmie says...
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a tender portrayal of cult survivors like me | Boze Herrington
I do love a tragicomic grief and caregiving graphic memoir, they are both a genre of their own and an answer to “what do I buy that won't be super morbid for my friend who just lost their mom."
Dancing at the Pity Party a book by Tyler Feder
Not the audiobook itself here, but rather an engaging multi-media presentation about the process of the book's creation.
Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home" (a presentation by the author)
This is a link to the actual book Fun Home which is really a classic of this genre and also has been made into a Broadway musical and also is taught in every liberal arts university English literature class! I've even seen books on how to teach this ...
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic a book by Alison Bechdel
Hannah Gadsby didn't make up the genre of tragicomedy stand up special, but her specials esp-specially (see what I did there) Nanette really got folks talking about the genre. And if it's valid. And if it's funny. etc etc. Lots of talking. Lots of ta...
Hannah Gadsby Survived Her Mom Heckling This Amazing Joke | | Netflix Is A Joke
Maybe.not tragic but definitely sad. And regretful. Funny and real.
Brown Parents Don't Believe in Therapy
Not a small amount of medium form (ie not long form content but not shorts) pop culture commentary, especially commentary on pop culture of the past, deals hilariously with the way we've treated tragedy in the past. This is a perfect example.
10 'Very Special Episodes' That Traumatized 80s Kids
I really thought I was the first person to say “laughter isn't the best medicine” but I was referencing the fact that antibiotics and vaccines are pretty awesome too. But this comic, who sustained a traumatic brain injury, has plenty to say about thi...
"Laughter is NOT the best medicine," says comedian | Mimi Hayes | TEDxCherryCreekWomen
One of the most real accounts of caregiving older parents.
Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir a book by Roz Chast
A person runs into a body. They write a book about it. Also, it's a graphic memoir. Does this make you want to read it? Go on, give it a try.
Look Again a book by Elizabeth A. Trembley
Yes this is my Moth Mainstage story so I'm probably not super objective. But I think it's both tragic and comic. Even though for some reason I was wearing a shirt that was clearly too big for me.
The Moth Presents: Kelli Dunham | Helpfully Ever After | Grand Rapids Mainstage 2023