On the Razor's Edge, and Walking It

Why do we joke about the things we joke about?

There was a time when those in power - the wealthy, the pious, the politically influential - were so generally respected they were considered beyond reproach. To joke about them was shocking and crass (and potentially even illegal or hazardous to one’s health). This made those jokes edgy and powerful.

So why a trend lately towards, for example, rape jokes, or racial jokes, or gay jokes? My theory is that political correctness has designated minorities, women, and other traditionally discriminated against groups as being beyond reproach, and subject to the same deference in speech that made those in power an appealing target in the past.

So it’s the same impulse, but the problem here is that people who have traditionally been abused or discriminated against are, in fact, often still abused or discriminated against. Plus, these squeaky-clean turns of phrase we’re meant to use were, for the most part, assigned by the majority. They clutter and impede the way we talk about things, and misdirect our resentment/suspicion of the powerful.

So is this absurdity a valid target for comedy? Absolutely. Comedy is a medium suited above all others to delve into the uncomfortable and ugly parts of human existence. Consider the collateral damage, though. Are you attacking the system, or those subject to it? It’s a tricky line to walk. You’ve got to be damn good (something to keep in mind when throwing around names like Hicks or Carlin). The difference between a genius and a jerk is not what they talk about, but how they talk about it.

So by all means, be subversive. Be smart. Be excellent. But do it for real.

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