Unfortunately, the world we live in today is filled with tragedies. From numerous ongoing battles for equality between race, gender, and sexual orientation, it can at times be difficult to discuss these controversial issues. Whether we are uncomfortable discussing these issues because we are unsure if we are being politically correct or afraid of starting an argument with someone who may take what we are saying the wrong way, it is often difficult to take the time to fully reflect on these important matters. One of the greatest aspects of stand-up comedy is a comedian’s ability to draw attention to such tragedies and issues going on in the world without feeling the need to hide their feelings. Their opinions are voiced without censorship because they are unafraid of who they may be offending.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtJ_sDRRVVI
In one of Louis C.K.’s stand-up bits, he criticized those who explain their reason for not wanting gay marriage because they are unsure how to explain to their children how two people of the same sex are married. He responded by saying, “I don’t know, it’s your sh**ty kid you tell them. Two guys can’t get married because you don’t want to talk to your ugly kid for five minutes” (johann10000). Similarly, Stephen Colbert commented on a South Carolina federal judge’s ruling that recognizes gay marriage. While Colbert called the rule groundbreaking, he questioned when “South Carolina start[ed] recognizing the federal government” (THE BIG SHOW).
A very popular topic on late night political satire television recently has been the protests for Mike Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in Staten Island. Comedians had a lot to say about the media coverage following the cases, as well as the convictions themselves. Stephen Colbert mentioned how some view the cases as “a larger troubling trend, or you could be Fox News…[because] for this to be a trend Taylor Swift would have to kill somebody and TayTay don’t play that way” (Colbert Channel TV). Jon Stewart, on the other hand, talks about the case as a whole. He said, “If comedy is tragedy plus time I need more f*****g time, but I really would settle for less tragedy to be honest” (Comedy Central).
However, even if it is about something less serious, like simply poking fun at racial slurs and stereotypes, comedians help us reconsider the world we know to be true. They are not afraid to point out character flaws. Aziz Ansari did a stand-up bit where he talked about researching some of his favorite racial slurs. He finds one that can be used as “a derogatory descriptive phrase for a person with predominantly Caucasian ancestry with real or suspected distant Asian or African ancestry,” which he admits to be “a pretty specific situation to need to bust out a racial slur.” Nonetheless, there is one for it (anuj68). Jon Oliver has a similar experience when he visits Australia, where he finds people complaining about there being too many Lebanese people. He responds with, “who the “f**k has a problem with Lebanese people? That is almost impressively specific…how many Lebanese people can there be in Australia, if there are only 4 million of them in f*****g Lebanon” (Comedy Central).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4nrS_TqU0
In a world where tragedy and stereotyping are far too common, comedy has proven to be a particularly useful way to raise important questions for discussion on significant social and political issues. With an ability to completely disregard censorship, comedians are able to address some of the most serious issues our world deals with, head on. So while we as viewers are laughing at their hilarious, over-the-top anecdotes, we are simultaneously forced to think about how corrupt and twisted the topic of discussion truly is. As Jon Stewart eloquently puts it, “[Comedy is] a catharsis, a way of processing emotion that might otherwise go undigested” (Comedy Central).
Watch more clips around the Web:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtJ_sDRRVVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJRlV2_L_mQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4FHUZI_gJ4