
Bo Burnham: What.
2013

2016
TV-MADirector
Bo Burnham, Christopher Storer
Runtime
60 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
Combining his trademark wit and self-deprecating humor with original music, Bo Burnham offers up his unique twist on life in this stand-up special about life, death, sexuality, hypocrisy, mental illness and Pringles cans.
Overall Score
Fair
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The special lacks explicit narratives centered on LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex intimacy. Themes of sexuality are explored through universal existentialism rather than specific queer frameworks.
Gender Representation
Burnham subverts traditional masculine expectations by eschewing the dominant, stoic comedian trope. He presents a vulnerability that challenges rigid social constructs and traditional gender hierarchies.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The production is centered entirely on a singular, white performer. There is no significant engagement with racial or ethnic diversity in the casting or narrative focus.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The work excels in critiquing modern Western institutions and the digital landscape. It explores the performative nature of social media and the hypocrisy of consumerist culture.
Disability Representation
The special provides a nuanced exploration of neurodivergence and mental health. It treats the psychological toll of performance and existential anxiety as central, high-agency themes.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
Bo Burnham's special is a highly individualized psychological study that prioritizes intellectual depth over demographic breadth. While the solo-performer format limits racial and ethnic diversity, the work succeeds in deconstructing social norms and the performative nature of modern life. The production shines in its sophisticated treatment of mental health and its systemic critique of digital consumerism. It moves beyond surface-level jokes to address the invisible burdens of the modern condition. However, the lack of diverse perspectives and explicit LGBTQ+ narratives results in a narrow demographic scope. The focus remains heavily on a singular, white, Western-centric viewpoint.

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