Stand-up comedy has become one of our culture's most important artistic forms. And that sounds strange. How can something as simple as a single person telling funny observations and anecdotes be one of our most important art forms? But look around. Stand-up is all over Netflix and other major streamers. Comedians dominate both the podcast arenas and the YouTube clip arenas. They also have an outsized importance in the national conversation on a broad range of culture issues.

How did this all happen? Where did all these comedians come from? Is there a significance to stand-up comedians beyond a few laughs? More fundamentally, how should we, as Christians, view the (surprisingly ancient) tradition of the comedian? Joining us at the table to discuss this issue is Jason Crawford. He's a professor of English at Union University, where he specializes in early modern literature and culture. He has also written a fantastic new book called God's Fools: Saints, Prophets, Martyrs, and the Making of Modern Comedy.