pelawak

Pelawak is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to refer to a comedian or performer who uses humor, jokes, and sketches to entertain an audience. The label encompasses a range of practitioners, including stand-up comedians, sketch actors, comedy hosts, and improvisers who perform on stage, television, film, or online platforms.

Etymology-wise, pelawak derives from the Malay/Indonesian root lawak meaning joke or jest, with the agentive prefix pe- forming a noun that denotes a person who performs humor.

Pelawak work in various formats and settings. They may perform stand-up routines (komedi tunggal), participate in sketch or parody acts, deliver situational humor, or improvise scenes based on audience interaction. Their work can appear in live venues, television programs, films, and increasingly on digital and social media platforms, and they may be part of a comedy group or perform solo.

Cultural context and role: Pelawak contribute to Southeast Asian entertainment by providing amusement, social observation, and cultural commentary through humor. They often tailor material to local languages and cultural norms, and their work can reflect evolving standards of taste and censorship. Success in this field generally depends on timing, delivery, audience rapport, and the ability to adapt to different media landscapes and audience expectations.