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Mel Brooks says political correctness is the death of comedy.
- Thread starter justjohn
- Start date
Comedy that relies on gross stereotypes. It's pretty clear what I mean.
I hear a lot of people saying "Eddie Murphy would get panned today!" Well, yeah. But guess what: he'd probably also change his subject material. Comedy is a lot about timing and delivery, not just the topics.
excelsiorlef
Member
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Spyder_Monkey
Banned
Yep!
And remember this.
Is a joke lampooning the KKK "politically incorrect" though. Whatever PC has never been a strong argument.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Have you seen any of the discussion about the Confederate statues lately? There are many Americans that stand up for that type of life. They literally say, "heritage not hate".
Chmpocalypse
Blizzard
And they're racist pieces of shit. What's your point?
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
People have been lecturing Zelda Williams on Twitter about what comedy is because she dared speak on this
She's really patient lol
She's really patient lol
Ascenion
Member
Except they arent. Im Black and Ill defend those confederate statues. They are both heritage and history. They belong in a museum, not destroyed.
On topic: nothing is off limits for comedy aside from what you personally dont feel comfortable using for material. So I agree with Mel.
excelsiorlef
Member
They were mass produced pieces of no value built to threaten and intimidate black folk.
Not everything needs to preserved.
Also what is it with the topic of comedy that all of a sudden responsibility goes out the window.
Polioliolio
Member
That era of politically correct is entirely different to the one today. These guys have always had a rational and liberal bend to them.
This guy's old and thinks he's talking about jokes from decades ago. Don't apply his words to today's political climate.
Well... some of them can still be funny. Seinfeld and Curb told a few good light hearted ones and I don't know any Jews (myself included) that were offended.
Like the one where Larry David wanted to get the two "survivors" together on Passover. One was a survivor of the holocaust and the other turned out to be from the show, Survivor. That was just plain funny.
Lol...no. Many are statements against the Civil Rights movement. There is no lesson, just a statement to minorities saying "not in my house". Statues are honorary devices not a history lesson, especially when it glorifies lies and misleads the public.
Not everything old is of value and Confederate statues and street names show off ignorance.
You can make jokes about anything but it's really all in the execution above all else. Jokes aren't necessarily specifically about making light of issues, sometimse it's about bringing those issues to the forefront that society tends to ignore. Comedy can be some of the heaviest social commentary out there since laughter is one thing that everyone can connect on.
Chmpocalypse
Blizzard
Lol, yes they are. Those statues are literally monuments to racism. The only 'heritage' they're promoting is slavery.
Mel Brooks is an extremely talented comdian and comedic writer who can make Blazing Saddles which relies on an unspoken mutual recognition of racism for its humor and a movie like To Be or Not To Be which is essentially a comedic version of Schindler's List. When it comes to comedy and his sensibilities I trust his understanding of what is and isn't off limits and how to handle difficult issues. Who I don't trust with comedy and political correctness are comedians like Bill Maher who thinks nigger is a fine punchline as long as he is delivering the joke.
Spyder_Monkey
Banned
Come on son, the only ones wanting the statues up are neo-nazis.
uncelestial
Member
Rest
All these years later I still chuckle at what a fucking moron that guy is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu2NqfISm9k
Mel Brooks. He made thousands of dollars doing it.
Exploring the humor in something doesn't diminish it, it allows people to observe it in ways they may not have otherwise. If you're too worried you'll offend someone because a topic seems like it's off limits, you harm yourself and those around you.
King Tubby
Member
Comedy seems like its doing just fine lol.
I love someone asking him how he thinks Chappelle Show would be received today, and his response is that Chappelle would be a fucking billionaire. It's absolutely true.
Kuroi Gogeta
Member
Kind of surprised by the confusion here. People are saying that Brooks should not be acting like "political correctness" is killing comedy while acknowledging that some creators have limits they don't want to cross. People have been telling creators from the very beginning of comedy that some of what they do is not funny. Some people found Charlie Chaplin offensive, some people found Joan rivers offensive, but that did not stop them from doing what they do.
Public pressure won't make comedians stop what they're doing, and these days controversy tends to HELP your brand rather than hurt it. I will say though, people do tend to think of the left as un humorous, this is a stereotype that has some truth to it. This is why I tend to enjoy comedians who can use satire to attack ignorance that causes harm to vulnerable people. This generation's version of Eddie murphy wouldn't make jokes where the punchline is that a person is gay. He would make jokes where the punchline is that someone finds homosexuality offensive in this day and age.
Comedy, like language evolves. You can go ahead and make something that isn't "politically correct" but you can't blame political correctness for why people don't find you funny. Your material is not creative, punches down and just isn't funny. If people aren't feeling your jokes, you have to make better ones. I don't know why so many of the people in this thread are ignoring this/missing this.
Public pressure won't make comedians stop what they're doing, and these days controversy tends to HELP your brand rather than hurt it. I will say though, people do tend to think of the left as un humorous, this is a stereotype that has some truth to it. This is why I tend to enjoy comedians who can use satire to attack ignorance that causes harm to vulnerable people. This generation's version of Eddie murphy wouldn't make jokes where the punchline is that a person is gay. He would make jokes where the punchline is that someone finds homosexuality offensive in this day and age.
Comedy, like language evolves. You can go ahead and make something that isn't "politically correct" but you can't blame political correctness for why people don't find you funny. Your material is not creative, punches down and just isn't funny. If people aren't feeling your jokes, you have to make better ones. I don't know why so many of the people in this thread are ignoring this/missing this.
nephilimdj
Member
Not sure why people keep bringing up his age, I mean Girls Trip made what 200million.
Comedies with smutty content are still popular, noone is saying that movie is for sexists pieces of shits.
Comedies with smutty content are still popular, noone is saying that movie is for sexists pieces of shits.
They aren't relics. They were put up by the UDC during the Jim Crow era to intimidate black people.
I love Mel to death, but certain things just aren't the same as they used to be and that's okay.
Remember that part in Young Frankestein where the monster is about to rape the woman, but then she sees his big penis and decides it's okay? Yeah, Mel. 2017 is different, and I'm happy with that.
Remember that part in Young Frankestein where the monster is about to rape the woman, but then she sees his big penis and decides it's okay? Yeah, Mel. 2017 is different, and I'm happy with that.
airmangataosenai
Member
For real. The idea that Brooks doesnt support the cause is one of the stupidest things I've seen suggested here, and thats saying something.
Good thing nobody said that.
Sarcastic Poster
Member
This thread smh
Mel Brooks is a "fossil", "dummy", "old white guy", "fucking hypocrite", "milkshake duck"?
*idontwanttoliveonthisplanetanymore.gif*
Mel Brooks is a "fossil", "dummy", "old white guy", "fucking hypocrite", "milkshake duck"?
*idontwanttoliveonthisplanetanymore.gif*
Or how about comedians own their shit?
If they say a joke that gets mega backlash, apologise. There's nothing wrong with admitting you fucked up. Going on the attack defending shitty jokes just makes them look like assholes.
DasPenguin
Member
Exactly. 92 yrs old and still funnier/smarter than most comedians that are 60-70 years younger than him.
PabloBolivar
Banned
Are we awake? Even if he is all of those things (he's not), he still made one of the funniest movies in mankind's history.
IrishNinja
Member
yeah, no difference between mel brooks & jordan peele doing it, right? that's why whites on ghost in the shell or let's say black panther is the same film, excellent point
how very suprising
no, just faux-liberal "allies" to minorities fit the bill, so in your instance, yes your point stands
Leatherface
Member
This all day long. Well said. I think this is something many overlook when arguing their case against subjects they find "offensive". Not all comedy is for everyone but if done well no subject is off limits and a lot of times can serve as a strong dose of social commentary.
A heritage of intimidation...?
He'd probably be close to a billionaire now if he hadn't walked away. His contract was ridiculous and his Netflix payday is huge.
tearsintherain
Member
It probably depends on the group you hang out with. I know a couple of really uptight people who take offense at pretty much everything, if all I did was hang out with them then yeah I'd probably think "man, fuck these people".
On the other hand you have stuff like Inside Amy Schumer, Broad City, that recent Hot Dog animated movie with Seth Rogan, etc that push way past the limits of what was previously considered taboo. American Dad, South Park, etc all swear regularly now on network TV with no problems. I'd consider Get Out the modern version of Blazing Saddles. The recent Baywatch and CHIPS movies showed a lot of dong.
There probably is an issue with college campuses being filled with ideologues who think they are being progressive in demanding anyone right of them is silenced, but college kids going to extremes is nothing new and usually a internal backlash against them arises naturally, as we are seeing nowadays with Evergreen, Mizzou, etc. Every generation likes to rebel against the core values of the previous generation, the reaction of the next gen to the values of the millennials should be... interesting.
On the other hand you have stuff like Inside Amy Schumer, Broad City, that recent Hot Dog animated movie with Seth Rogan, etc that push way past the limits of what was previously considered taboo. American Dad, South Park, etc all swear regularly now on network TV with no problems. I'd consider Get Out the modern version of Blazing Saddles. The recent Baywatch and CHIPS movies showed a lot of dong.
There probably is an issue with college campuses being filled with ideologues who think they are being progressive in demanding anyone right of them is silenced, but college kids going to extremes is nothing new and usually a internal backlash against them arises naturally, as we are seeing nowadays with Evergreen, Mizzou, etc. Every generation likes to rebel against the core values of the previous generation, the reaction of the next gen to the values of the millennials should be... interesting.
Leatherface
Member
thepenguin55
Member
True but also people are allowed to criticize something for not being politically correct. Ive always believed that nothing should be off the table when it comes to comedy but be prepared for criticism.
Another comedian making a routine out of political correctness. Strange, it seems that if anything, political correctness is saving comedy!
Privileged comedian upset because he now has to put some thought into his jokes. Quite a hot take.
Schnozberry
Member
I don't believe Carlin ever said controversial comedy was exempt from criticism. He just said he wouldn't be dictated to about his material, and he wouldn't be shy in defending himself when required.
Leatherface
Member
Haha okay then. That doesnt even make sense. Privledged comedian? Upset at what? He was telling a joke. Are you just trying to find something to be mad at, at this point?
Also, hes not wrong..
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