Do racism or profanity have any place in comedy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6xaj2fC1jI&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPOfurmrjxo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMUiwTubYu0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui6-Wc0PDc4&feature=related

sure

I’ve just discovered a comedian called Steve Hughes, He’s fabulously funny, no boundaries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0lVbMOMTi0

I wouldn’t ban any of them. Part of having freedom of speech is having the freedom to be offensive. :)

That said, I think a good comedian can use humor to show how ridiculous people can be. Racism is stupid, much of politics are stupid, and let’s face it a lot of people are stupid. Sometimes holding up a mirror like that shows people how silly they are, all while being entertaining in the process.

@ModernEpicurian
Holy shit I was just looking for him!

Heres how it went out for the English people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAGJpISVERg&feature=related

I know it’s cheesy but I really like Peter Kay maybe it’s a regional thing, but I’m sure it’s not, he does seem to cover everyday things in a funny way that all the family can enjoy

….racism or profanity have any place in comedy..
Mel Brooks makes both work In a GOOD way!

Yes. They can be funny. “Funny” does not necessarily equal “in good taste”—in fact, it often doesn’t. To me comedy does seem much more of an art if it doesn’t resort to cheap tricks and shock, but that’s what a lot of people want to hear.

@ModernEpicurian That was hysterical!

@Jeruba
I think shock in comedy, if its well thought out, contributes greatly to comedy.

Yes, absolutely, in every possible sense. The original Kings of Comedy proved that talking about such “taboo” matters is side-splittingly hilarious.

However, there’s a very distinct difference between a joke and a piece of hate.

Depends on how the humor is used.

I wouldn’t ban any comedians, I just choose to ignore certain ones. I understand what you mean by some things being funnier because of vulgarity. I like Kathy Griffin, Gabriel Iglesias, Louis Black, and some Dane Cook.

Personally, I stay away from any comedy routines that are full of racism. Mainly because it seems like its more okay to make fun of one race than it is to make fun of another. I guess its a racial double standard where a black guy can say whatever he wants about a white guy but a white guy is limited to what he can say. I dont like that kind of situation or environment, so I stick to comedy about other things.

Well, despite the fact that Eddie Izzard swears like a sailor, he mostly isn’t racist or “profane” in the sexual/fart jokes sense of the word.

And the swearing could be because he’s British. :P

But I appreciate comics who leave the gross-out and/or sexual jokes out of the routine. I think some comics are funnier because they are more intelligent (less base humor).

@Pazza, surprise, absolutely. By “shock” I meant things that really are shocking, as in gross, vulgar, horrifying, etc., and not just unexpected. But I was remiss in failing to define my terms.

@Jeruba
No I think I got it, forinstance Bill Hick’s goat boy.

Wait a minute here, the original question has been completely changed, I have now answered a question that no longer exists, and would like to answer this one in a different way.

@RareDenver
I saw you writing a response when I first posted it, but I got hit by the Moderator. Who said it was more suited to the forum. So I edited it quick sharp like.

@Pazza I don’t understand why you got modded in the first place, it seemed like a straight up question, so what that you referenced Roy Chubby ‘I’m not a fat racist cunt’ Brown in the body of the question, it doesn’t mean the whole question should be based on that.

Just because I can see the irony in this Feed Your Face doesn’t mean I’m racist

@RareDenver
By that I take it you think I got Modded because of the chubby brown reference?

Yes, I do think it has a place; comedy can pretty much go anywhere and I don’t give a crap if it wants to do things that are “taboo”. However, comedy becomes unfunny when it becomes repetitive and begins to rely on one thing. If all it relies on is profanity and racism, then it probably won’t end up being that funny later on.

About the only ‘humor’ i dislike is the ovary=hear me roar, pushing out a watermelon stuff. I think most everything else can be funny. Swearing continuously is just irritating. The more we laugh at ourselves the better. I got a special kick out of the secondary smoke skit! Is it the UK accent I love?!

@Pazza I really don’t know why you got modded, it’s usually because they think you haven’t worded it correctly, personally I think you worded it fine the first time, the particular branch of humour you alluded to in the details section should have no impact on your original question.

How did you word the original question again?

Nothing should EVER be censored, period. And you can be insightful and still use racist humor and swear. Take for example, Chris Rock.

Chris Rock is a) on your list, b) insightful, c) profane and d) racist in his comedy. Case in point, to paraphrase.

Every town has two malls. There’s the white mall, and the mall white people USED to go to. And their ain’t nothin’ in the black mall ‘cept for sneakers and baby clothes. That’s all they must think we be doin: runnin’ and fuckin’.

I rest my case.

Of course.

What makes profanity inappropriate? I think your over-use of proper nouns is inappropriate.
And racism? Two words- Dave Chappelle.

Who is overusing proper nouns? i don’t understand this answer

@faye Pazza isn’t overusing nouns, it was just a point that profanity isn’t inappropriate to everyone.

@Clair thanks, i hate not knowing stuff!

I don’t think you need to have either to be funny. In fact, my favorite comedians are funny without that crap.

Fuck yes profanity has a place in comedy!

Hell no, racism does not have a place in comedy! Stereotypes, yes, overt racism, no.

Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Mitch Hedberg, David Cross, Louis C.K., Katt Williams-all great communicators and observers…never censor as dalepeteie says

It has it’s place, but on the same note, I laugh more at child’s play than some washed up alcoholic comedian. (stereotype, anyone?)

I am not a fan of copious profanity, such as that perpetuated by Andrew Dice Clay, nor do I like the form of “attack comedy” done by Don RIckles. Moderate profanity is fine as long as the kids aren’t around, but I really prefer witty humor.

My favorites (now remember that I am older than mud) include Alan King, Billy Crystal, Bill Cosby, Mitch Hedberg, Jack Benny, Cantinflas, Jackie Vernon, George Carlin, Charlie Chaplin, Dick Gregory, Freddie Prinze, Flip WIlson, Lily Tomlin, George Burns, Mort Sahl, Groucho Marx, Moms Mabley, Sarah Silverman, Steven Wright, Steve Martin, Margaret Cho, and Henry Cho (no relation).

I am also a huge fan of P.D.Q. Bach and Peter Schikele, Victor Borge (he came and played at our high school once), Flanders and Swann, Spike Jones, Dudley Moore, the Smothers Brothers, Allan Sherman, and Anna Russell.

@sndfreQ You just listed most of my favorite comedians. Steven Wright is another favorite of mine.

Racism will always be used in comedy. Even after all these years people still laugh about it. And as long as people keep laughing, comedians will keep telling the racist jokes. I don’t support it. That’s just life. Throwing a few joke around here and there is alright in my eyes. But an entire act that’s centered around blacks…that’s not necessary.

i think bashing the Anglo Saxon is fair game, profanity definately.

Comedians who employ “racism” in their humor well, do so by exposing the stereotypes for what they are, so you’re kind of laughing at the stereotype while acknowledging that hey, they come from somewhere. It’s kind of like, yes, some of the stereotypes that are out there do actually apply to real people within the ethnic group which is being targeted by the stereotype…the trick is to make fun of the subset of people to whom the stereotype actually does apply while making fun of the assumption that it applies to every member of that group. In doing so, we can actually tear down some of these artificial barriers by pointing out just how ridiculous they are. There are masters of this game, Richard Pryor for example. By opening using the “N” word and really talking about racial differences in his humor, he humanized it, made it something everyone can relate to. Chris Rock is a modern practitioner of this type of humor. But then there are people who just don’t seem to get it and just throw out the tired old stereotypes without adding any insight…I’m looking at Lisa Lampanelli…the only people I know who think she is hilarious are people who are themselves pretty racist, and just don’t get it. But I wouldn’t censor her, I think you have the right to say any ignorant thing you want.

Either you can make fun of everything, or nothing at all.

Profanity yes. Anti-racism yes.

Have you heard the one about the racist who choked on yogurt? He found out there was a foreign culture in it.

@mattbrowne
Niiiiicccce, like it.
Cheesy, but nice.

joking about something is the first step in accepting it.

I accept anti-racism !

@NaturalMineralWater Some of my favorite comedians are from back in the day like Bob Hope and jerry lewis and jack lemmon…all those guys are great. Sometimes clean humor is the best there is (IMHO). :)

Jerry Seinfeld has said that profanity in comedy is cheating.

Eddie Murphy is funny enough without cussing, but then one of his idols was Richard Pryor, who, IMHO, HAD to cuss to be halfway funny.

And, no, I don’t think politics have any place in comedy. You’re essentially cutting you’re audience in half when you make fun of one party over another.

Racism is so off-putting too. However, making fun of particular traits of a particular race seems non-offensive. I can laugh at myself there.

@stratman37 i completely agree