Smithsonian Lecture Series: Funny Stuff

Discover how the Smithsonian collects and preserves the nation’s comedy heritage with Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator in the Division of Culture & the Arts at the National Museum of American History.

Lintelman — who has curated exhibitions on children’s television, Jim Henson and the Muppets, The Wizard of Oz, and the landmark Entertainment Nation (which features iconic artifacts like a pair of Fred Rogers’ sneakers) — will share insights from his forthcoming book, “Funny Stuff: How Comedy Shaped American History.”

The book offers a sweeping look at how humor has reflected and influenced the American experience, from 19th-century vaudeville and minstrel shows to modern stand-up, television satire, and internet memes.

Lintelman will also explore why comedy remains such a timely and essential form of expression, reminding us that laughter has always been a platform for debate and a powerful mirror of American values and identity.