Comedians

Being someone who loves comedians i was looking forward to this lecture. I found it very interesting and insightful. I don't like comedians who make jokes on purpose to single out certain people. I just don't think its nessesary. I love jokes but when a joke, for example, is racist or sexsist i just don't laugh. I don't know why some comedians do this, maybe they enjoy the publicity they get for how shocking they can be, but to me it would be a better idea to stick to whats right so in that way they appeal to a mass audience and make more money. You don't want a arena full of ten racist twats and no one else do you? Well i would have thought you woulnd't anyway. I don't know any really offensive acts becasue i usually steer clear of them but one comedian i really like is Chris Rock and he caused some trouble in the media with his act about black people. Now Chris Rock is black so it was hard for critics to know what to say (i think), but what happened was this. He has an 'bit' where he compares different types of black people (he called one side 'black people' and the other a word i'm not going to type (by the way another issue to think about is - if one minority group is making fun of it's own race is it ok?). Now this caused a thing in America, but from my point of view i think he was trying to send out a positive message. I don't agree he should have used that word, but what he is trying to do it tell non-black people that all black people are not bad. (After watching an Documenty about gun crime in America i discovered the American media portray African-Americans in an unfair light.) I just think he is trying to say, sure some do commit crimes just like other races, but not all of us do so please don't generalize. That's my reading although i watched his show a while back now but from watching his TV show 'everybody hates Chris' recently i think my thoughts are around the right area.

We also talked about comedians swearing. Now swearing has become the 'norm' nowadays but when you hear a swear word in a joke i think it's the icing on the cake. Mainly becasue it's a taboo (suprisingly) it tops of a joke well and almost solidifys a laugh. The funny thing about swearing is - we don't mind saying it but if someone swears at us its shocking! Am i right? I swear all the time (well i'm not that bad) but when i heard my little sister repeat a swear word from the TV i was shocked and told her off. Swearing for comedians exagerates a joke though and that always gets a laugh.

If your looking for some good comedians (hopefully not nasty ones) in the UK this site is a good one for telling you who's playing and when - http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/a/