Artistic Expression or Paid Bullying

There is no feeling that can compare to gut-busting, tear-evoking, hysterical laughter. We can all agree on the importance of humor and there is a mountainous amount of research to support its healing power. Many professional comedians have stated how comedy has no boundaries and a few would even acclaim their craft to making people laugh is their artistic expression. It still leaves the question: should comics have the right to joke about anyone and anything without dire consequences?

Comedy has evolved greatly over the years. The jokes that were displayed in performances decades ago would not perform well in modern society. For example, blackface, where a performer would paint their face black and imitate a person from African descent, began to rapidly lose popularity when the civil rights movement began. Additionally, in modern society it continues to remain derogatory and many shows have either edited their scripts or will no longer provide access to scenes depicting blackface. This shows how comedy has evolved to fit the beliefs of modern society.

There are jokes that are recorded on television and obviously did not survive the test of time based on today’s standards for comedy. Friends, a popular 90’s television show which followed the lives of six Caucasian friends living in New York, lacked racial diversity; flaunted homophobia, and included jokes related to toxic masculinity, but during the 90’s it was acceptable. It becomes a historical perspective of the world we lived in, but if the same program were presented to studios today, it would most likely be declined. The show’s target audience would find most of the jokes more of an insult.

When it comes to stand-up comedy, should the comics be allowed to joke about anything without any consequences? We have already witnessed the slap that was heard around the world when Chris Rock blurted a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith during the 2022 Oscars. It was reported that Chris Rock was unaware of her medical condition, but should he have been aware before he targeted her? Often when comedians take the spotlight, they will say whatever pops in their minds, as it is hard to find content when you are hosting a show like the Oscars. How much accountability should Rock shoulder for his joke about another actor when it has become tradition to roast celebrities during this prestigious night. Fortunately, celebrities are usually mentally prepared for an evening of roasting and overlook any comical blows that land on them.

There are some comedians who take the stage and find flaws from their patrons who are sitting closer to the stage. They will continue to create content based on what they see: other people’s insecurities. To add insult to injury, the people who leave the show may have their humanity stripped from them because they have become known as the joke that was pinned on them. These actions are very similar to bullies. Bullies will find their victims flaws and insecurities then joke about it with complete ignorance. Since the onstage comic picked on an audience member, they are unaware of any background trauma their target may have, leaving the comedian “ignorant” of these problems. If we can recognize when a bully is doing an overpowering play, then we should prohibit a comedian from performing it in the name of “artistic expression.”

What seems to be an ongoing problem with some stand up comedians creating jokes out of pure ignorance. For example: some comedians who poke fun at a racial community (i.e. Black, Asian, Muslim, etc) with little or no research on the culture, their jokes tend to be filled with inaccuracy and false stereotyping. Additionally, if they are not part of the community, it makes their comedy become much more distasteful. Racial jokes work best when a member of the racial community shares it. That comic understands the community and the struggles better than anyone because they are living it daily. People who use false stereotypes and ignorance to joke about a racial community they do not belong to are simply: bullies. Often when a bully says something to provoke laughter, it is because they lack understanding of a person’s culture.

Identity communities work similar to racial ones. For decades, the LGBTQ community has been target number one for so many comedians. However, in 2022, as a society, we have a better understanding of identity (sexual, gender, etc). Furthermore, we have access to the internet to educate ourselves regarding identity. It is beyond time for older comedians to be aware of the differences and use this knowledge to better their craft.

How should modern comedians generate laughs? It’s simple. Actually insert facts in the skit, or use personal struggles and experiences to craft into a comical anecdote. There are many hilarious comedians who take to the stage and joke about their culture (Gabriel Iglesias), or share their trauma and personal experience (Ali Wong, Tayler Tomlinson) or even take it one step further and find humor in current events (Sam Morril). What these comedians do is joke about topics that are close to their own personal life and/or know the research to support their jokes. This is a stronger form of artistic expression. Turning towards a marginalized group of people to create content that is offensive and inaccurate continues to perpetuate harm to a deeply hurting group.

“Stand-up comedy should not be censored and not much is ‘off-limits’ for comedic purposes.” This is the stance of Flaming Monroe, a comedian. What makes this statement hypocritical is: comedy is censored to a certain extent. A Caucasian comic could not take the stage and start making jokes about “N****” without it creating conflict. It’s like an unspoken rule to never use the n-word, unless you are from African descent. When any comedian decides to use controversial issues to joke about, they also need to be ready for the backlash that will come because their jokes were offensive.

What is artistic expression? Many can agree artistic expression should not be offensive material, especially if it’s comedy. The goal for every comedian should be to create content that respects everyone regardless of their background. To joke about flaws, insecurities, or even a marginalized group is bullying. Many people from the younger generations are not “soft skinned,” they recognize when a jokester lacks empathy and calling these comedians out for their offensive work. Comedians need to prove their craft and actually focus on producing jokes that are actually funny without harming others.