Offensive or funny?I think it’s really hard to distinguish what should be considered a bad comedian because everyone views comedy differently. Some people take offence to really trivial things, but on the other hand some comedians can be really offensive. Where do you draw the line when a whole audience thinks a comedian is funny but the group the jokes are targeted at take offence – who’s right?
Also, does it make any difference if the comedian makes offensive jokes about their own culture? Chris Rock makes jokes about people of his own race and Simon Amstell makes jokes about people of his own religion but they aren’t considered ‘bad comedians’ (in fact they’re really famous). Some people can be really sensitive about jokes and I think if a joke wasn’t about a taboo subject or offensive to someone it wouldn’t be funny. Is it that when a comedian talks about these taboo subjects we laugh because we find it acceptable to laugh because someone’s said what we’ve been thinking but can’t say in real life (because it’s offensive)? I.e. if 5,000 people in the audience laugh we’re not alone in our thinking? For example, people laugh at Chris Rock’s potentially offensive material because his comedy is based around himself, so it seems OK to laugh with him.
Also does it make any difference if cartoons are used in comedy – less or more offensive? This site suggests Family Guy makes fun out of stereotypes and South Park makes fun out of Jews even though the creator is Jewish – does this make it worse or is he trying to make a point about offensive comedy?
http://www.amiannoyingornot.com/(S(0yuifp45gkjhfgrit2tzfnzr))/collection.aspx?collection=4356
The site below suggests:
“Having a laugh can make anything - your life, for example - bearable. But if the laugh is of a certain kind, and of a certain depth, then the issue can become unbearable, or rather intolerable. Of course, the tone here might suggest a form of snobbery: that unless one's values are being questioned then you're not watching very good stand-up. That is an understandable take but it is not my point. My point is that, in the drive for comedy that doesn't really matter, ie has no actionable consequences, the industry has come to prize the sterile over the virile. Not all entertainment needs to be comforting”. Do you think this is right?
Also, does it make any difference if the comedian makes offensive jokes about their own culture? Chris Rock makes jokes about people of his own race and Simon Amstell makes jokes about people of his own religion but they aren’t considered ‘bad comedians’ (in fact they’re really famous). Some people can be really sensitive about jokes and I think if a joke wasn’t about a taboo subject or offensive to someone it wouldn’t be funny. Is it that when a comedian talks about these taboo subjects we laugh because we find it acceptable to laugh because someone’s said what we’ve been thinking but can’t say in real life (because it’s offensive)? I.e. if 5,000 people in the audience laugh we’re not alone in our thinking? For example, people laugh at Chris Rock’s potentially offensive material because his comedy is based around himself, so it seems OK to laugh with him.
Also does it make any difference if cartoons are used in comedy – less or more offensive? This site suggests Family Guy makes fun out of stereotypes and South Park makes fun out of Jews even though the creator is Jewish – does this make it worse or is he trying to make a point about offensive comedy?
http://www.amiannoyingornot.com/(S(0yuifp45gkjhfgrit2tzfnzr))/collection.aspx?collection=4356
The site below suggests:
“Having a laugh can make anything - your life, for example - bearable. But if the laugh is of a certain kind, and of a certain depth, then the issue can become unbearable, or rather intolerable. Of course, the tone here might suggest a form of snobbery: that unless one's values are being questioned then you're not watching very good stand-up. That is an understandable take but it is not my point. My point is that, in the drive for comedy that doesn't really matter, ie has no actionable consequences, the industry has come to prize the sterile over the virile. Not all entertainment needs to be comforting”. Do you think this is right?
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