Taboo Comedy. Why is it so damn funny?

[Whirlysplat]

example

Borat = Racism (but it's satire) so it's bloody funny, but many people were allegedly exploited in the films making in a racist way so it's racism....... It's still bloody funny?

Discuss.

 

[CristoTheSecond]

I never saw "Borat" so I couldn't say.

But, racism isn't funny. Race may be funny, but racism isn't.

 

[Addendum]

Satirizing racism is funny

 

[Whirlysplat]

I never saw "Borat" so I couldn't say.

But, racism isn't funny. Race may be funny, but racism isn't.

Isn't it?

 

[Whirlysplat]

Satirizing racism is funny

But was Borat Satire if Baron Cohen exploited the Villagers and misrepresented a nation?

 

[Addendum]

yes

 

[Whirlysplat]

yes

Or was it a double bluff? Either way I laughed. Should comedy have sacred cows?

 

[Addendum]

Sacred cows make the best cheeseburgers, so no. Comedy should not have sacred cows

 

[Whirlysplat]

Sacred cows make the best cheeseburgers, so no. Comedy should not have sacred cows

I agree, I was hoping for a difference response for this thread.... Damn, intelligent posters like yourself ruin internet forums.

 

[Addendum]

Well a "sacred cow" or "holy cow" is "an idiom used to identify a person, institution, idea, or ideology as being unreasonably immune to criticism or opposition".

I think there is nothing above criticism

 

[Whirlysplat]

I think there is nothing above criticism

Or above being funny. Lets be honest the more something is a sacred cow the funnier it is when it's used as the butt of a joke.

 

[Gilpesh]

Um. Comedy is freedom. That's why Gilbert Godfrey told a 9/11 joke right after it.

 

[chaseter]

Um. Comedy is freedom. That's why Gilbert Godfrey told a 9/11 joke right after it.

That is also why his only gig is on The Tonight Show.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Or was it a double bluff? Either way I laughed. Should comedy have sacred cows?

No because once you censor one thing, it's easy to censor the next and the next until all comedy is dumbed down to According to Jim levels. Although, I think in terms of making fun a certain "taboo" subjects you have to be a good comedian, too many try to be edgy, but just aren't funny, they take it too far and beat a dead horse about it. It's kinda like South Park vs. Family Guy, South Park takes a subject saitrizes it, then moves on, Family Guy on the other hand, keeps using the same random joke gag that is sometimes edgy, but it hasn't moved past that and it just isn't as funny anymore.

 

[TNC9852002]

-TNC

 

[Addendum]

That is also why his only gig is on The Tonight Show.

He's also doing various commercial work, still doing his stand-up and makes recurring appearances on the Howard Stern Show on Sirius

 

[Carcharodon]

It's funny because it gets a shock response. You feel like you're getting away with something by laughing at it, as though you yourself are doing something wrong.

Sacred cows are good...if we didn't have sacred cows, it simply wouldn't be as funny to jab them with cattle-prods.

 

[Gilpesh]

No because once you censor one thing, it's easy to censor the next and the next until all comedy is dumbed down to According to Jim levels. Although, I think in terms of making fun a certain "taboo" subjects you have to be a good comedian, too many try to be edgy, but just aren't funny, they take it too far and beat a dead horse about it. It's kinda like South Park vs. Family Guy, South Park takes a subject saitrizes it, then moves on, Family Guy on the other hand, keeps using the same random joke gag that is sometimes edgy, but it hasn't moved past that and it just isn't as funny anymore.

Carlos Mencia.... *clears throat* I mean Menstealia

 

[Whirlysplat]

It's funny because it gets a shock response. You feel like you're getting away with something by laughing at it, as though you yourself are doing something wrong.

Sacred cows are good...if we didn't have sacred cows, it simply wouldn't be as funny to jab them with cattle-prods.

Agreed guys and it's funny to crack those jokes as well imo.

 

[Gilpesh]

http://www.explosm.net/comics/1018/

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Carlos Mencia.... *clears throat* I mean Menstealia

Carlos Mencia is another good example. Compare Mind of Mencia, one trick pony to Chapelle's Show, which continued to use different subjects. Hell, you could look at Chapelle's Lil' Jon stuff as another example, first time funny, tenth time, not so much.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

That is also why his only gig is on The Tonight Show.

He's also the voice of the Aflack duck

 

[chaseter]

He's also the voice of the Aflack duck

Rolling in the dough then we can assumet:

 

[Kritish]

Borat's funny because he's a Jewish guy satirizing racism. Same thing for Dave Chappell or whoever else you want to mention.

 

[Gilpesh]

Reminds me of people saying that Sarah Silverman shouldn't make fun of Britney's kids or even Britney herself.