Political Correctness In Comedy

Words: 567
Pages: 3

Although comics might think any subject is fair game for comedy, there are critics who argue that jokes can seriously backfire. This critique even comes from within the comedy business itself. Comedian Bill Cosby, famous for his clean and gentle brand of comedy, is known to oppose the use of the word ‘nigger’ in comedy. He considers it ‘cheap linguistic pandering.’ Charles Grodin, an actor and former commentator for 60 Minutes II and host of the CNBC talk show The Charles Grodin Show, has criticized jokes about minorities, gays, and Jews. “They perpetuate stereotypes. If you don’t think so, just look at the anti-Semitism and racism still around. We can’t afford to laugh at certain things. Pedophilia jokes just aren’t funny (Cohen).
We are living in the age of the joke controversy. On the Internet, they seem to arrive with the frequency of subway trains. But, despite what you might have heard, a new political correctness is not ruining the art of comedy. In some quarters, it may be helping. Political correctness is needed to help comedians not to go too far. Comedians have never been able to joke about challenging subjects without repercussions, and
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After the Boston Marathon bombing he tweeted a joke: “Guys, today there are just some lines that should not be crossed. Especially the finish line.” He soon realize that was a bad joke and he audience didn’t received it well. Was it because it was too soon to do the joke or was his joke to insensitive and distasteful? Depend on who you talk to. Jeselnik later deleted the tweet and in a special he did on cable he said, “Thoughts and Prayers,” for the Boston Marathon bombing. If it wasn’t for political correctness he probably wouldn’t felt bad about the joke. His jokes have the rhythm of a magic trick and the concision of a bubble-gum-pop lyric: Not a word