Lawrence Eilenberg

Before I started this semester, I was really looking forward to this class, and then I read the reviews of Eilenberg on this website, and I got scared. Thankfully, he turned out to be my favorite teacher this semester and it was my favorite class by far. It's easy and interesting. The project choices are interesting too and do not take a lot of time to do well. The only thing I found really funny was that he said he was nominated for an Oscar for writing the movie "Being There", but that is not true... There is no mention of him having anything to do with that movie anywhere, so that's a bit of a mystery... As well, he said he wasn't doing any side projects this semester, so I think that helped make him more relaxed and friendly towards the class. But he really is not the nightmare others make him out to be. He can be a bit annoying, like always saying "Hello!" and then waving his arms waiting for us to reply, but he knows his stuff and he is a fair teacher. I definately reccomend this class to anyone.

Larry isn't quite the MONSTER some of these reviews make him out to be, but he IS certainly a little bit on the " jerk" side of cool. His lectures are not particularly funny ( most of the laughs you may or may not enjoy will come from screenings of professional work and/or student performances), nor are they particularly interesting or stimulating. It is, however, a fairly EASY class to at least coast through for an A or B. Just take it and choke it down, it beats some of the other monotonous stuff I've been forced to take

There are 3 exams and the lowest grade out of the first 2 exams are dropped. THe exams consist of 25 questions: true/false, multiple choice, and matching. THe exams are easy because it isn't cumulative but you don't ever know what exactly will be on the exam because it could be based on the lectures, readings, and/or activities in class. His handwritting is ok but sometimes barely readable. THere isn't any homework but 1 project and 1 paper which are stupid and time consuming but there are several different paper and project options to choose from with different due dates. He's never available outside of class and his personality is horrible. He gets very moody and gives you alot of attitude sometimes but tries to be nice during his class lectures. The lectures are unbelievably boring and irrelavent because its all bull. Listening to his lectures is horrible since he has the worse speaking skills because he doesn't give eye contact, speakes to the floor and space, stutters, spits, uses ums and ahs 24/7, and etc basicly he would fail that speech 150 class we all have to take with a fat F. He grades the projects and papers unfairly I think since its a BS class anyways. Overall, he is a bad teacher and not funny but overall easy if you're a slacker.

very fun class. Eilenberg knows his stuff really well. Tests are a joke, just show up to class and get cliff notes on the readings. Projects are fun and creative. GREAT CLASS FOR GE CREDITS!

Beware! Those pondering about taking this course should be forewarned. Do not expect ANY thing humorous to even be remotely uttered from this professor. This can be a common misconcpetion people have about this class. The course name is "The Art of Comedy" but it should be changed to "The Art of Larry Eilenberg". He constantly boast about his connections and affiliations with various playwrights to the extent of great bordom. Moreover, he does not allow any other people to voice their opinions or even to use the restroom as one beautiful reviewer stated. His lectures are not that relative to the test . The only great thing about this class is seeing your classmates display their talents through the projects. So, I end with a joke. How many Professor Eilenbergs does it take to screw in a light bulb? Two. One to screw in the lightbulb. And the other to stand beneath him and talk about wonderful he's doing.

This class went in depth from the history behind comedy (Roman, Greek -Burlesque, Vaudville) to contemporary comedians and different forms. Besides the lectures, which were pretty good, i enjoyed the projects as well. Mask design, student stand-up comedy, music video mockumentary, and video projects were just a few projects options that were available to choose from. My class watched some early stand-up acts from Billy Crystal, and Whoopie Goldberg. We also had guest appearances from a few well-known stand-up comedians as well. The only downside to this class was professor Eilenberg's personality and how he carried himself. This man has a huge ego and he won't miss an opportunity to tear down anyone in the class. This not done in a funny, witty way, but more condescending and ill-hearted. One of his more dominant traits as being a jerk can be observed through visiting him during his office hours. He speaks to you like a child, with such frustration at any question that you wouldn't want to come again. He snaps at people (i think he's aware of it) while he proudly shows off his intellectual prowess. This man is the devil. But other than that the class is fine. It would be even better if the t.a.'s were teaching it.

Despite it being an art of comedy class, he wasn't very funny. nor was he tolerant of a joke made at his expense, but he loved making students feel stupid.

Definitely a "must" class if you need GE units or looking for a class that allows you to laugh. There was a lot of comic talent in the class and they performed for us, and sometimes were even a part of the exam (as long as you were there to witness the event you'll get the answer). It was a class you can skip and not care about, but why bother skipping it when you can actually have fun? The project and paper were easy, but don't do them last minute or else it gets hard. Do all the readings, or atleast skim them. He doesn't ask for specific details on the exams, he does make sure that you atleast know what was going on. This is basically an attention-based class, know what you read and take the lectures seriously. Most of the time, you'll be having fun.

An entertaining class with a bit of class creativity. It's amazing what a group of students can come up with when they are pushed by a pro. Student projects were funny and surprisingly good. Dr. Eilenberg's loved to share his numerous accomplishments with the class whether we wanted to hear them or not. If you attend class and do most of the reading (half will work) you will do well on his 3 tests. If you need a GE credit, take this class. It's fun and a great way to earn 3 credits for laughing.

I think Larry isn't a great teacher. He acts like he knows everything. Going to class is a drag because it's boring. If you take this class with a buddy, you'll probably do okie. Otherwise, it's really hard to drag yourself going to a boring class everytime. Also, since comedy has a lot to do with its history background, it's not easy to remember everything. Taking good notes is a must. I think passing this class is not a problem, but getting an A is definitely not easy.

I really liked the Art of Comedy class I took with Larry Eilenberg. Larry Likes himself a lot. I mean a LOT. He's probably the most concieted guy I've ever met in my entire life, and the funny part is that he doesn't even know it. Despite that, the class was pretty good, a little history heavy, but I found it really valuable in analyzing comedy, and if you take notes in class the tests are insultingly easy. I wish there had been more opportunity for performance, but overall not a bad class. Don't be surprised though if one day Larry topples from the shear size of his head.

Larry Eilenberg is an instructor who acts like he wants nothing to do with his students, and his ego is ridiculous. The lectures he gives are reptitive and boring. I am a student greatly interested in comedy and I perform stand up.I wish more of this was in the course.A history is important, but so is performing to get an in depth understanding.If Eilenberg was not so "into himself", I would have enjoyed the class much more.

ok, so this is supposed to be a great class for learning about comedy right? Well, it would be if it weren't for eilenberg's enormous ego. I sewar that his ego could very well fill up the entire theatre that he was teaching in, never mind the students! Eilenberg spent the first class period explaining how he was a great teacher and all of the wonderfull things that he has done in the realm of comedy. He told us not in a way that impressed, but in a supirior, off-handed way making sure that the average classman knew that Eilenberg was FAR to important to ever deign himself to notice anyone else, except possibly a mirror. The content of the class was actually fairly competent and interesting, but we never really learned how to produce comedy. We learned how it happend and how to appreciate it, but I could do that by reading a book, not written by Eilenberg, and watching a sitcom. This would be a wonderful class if it had someone with a bit more humor and a lot more humility teaching. I'm sorry for all of you whoo have to take this course for a requirment and this bombastic fool is still teaching it.

Professor Eilenberg's class, the art of comedy, is to this very day, one of the most enjoyable classes I have ever taken in my life; the class was a real treat! We watched comedy films from time to time. Prof. Eilenberg brought in guests who did stand up comedy - it was so cool! I enjoyed the class so much that I attended class everyday. He was enthusiastic, organized, clear, and has a handle on the subject like you wouldn't believe. The man knows what he's talkin' about! Although the class was huge with hundreds of students, Prof. Eilenberg was available and helpful during his office hours. There were five exams throughout the semester (lowest score dropped), one paper assignment, and one project. I know the paper and project may sounds intimidating, but don't be, because they're so easy. He practically gives you the whole semester to do them. The class was a piece of cake, but the real good thing about it is that I learned so much from it. I learned the secrets of the art of comedy and have a sense of what goes on behind sitcoms I watch on television. If you need this class to fulfull a certain requirement or would just like a fun & kickback class (as with any class, this is only true if you take it seriously), I definitely suggest Prof. Eilenberg's class, the art of comedy. You'll be glad if you do.