DietRob
i've been begging for over 5 years.
Agree.
it's all about the approach and skill of the comedian. What comes to mind is someone like Larry David who can find and extract humor in things like the Holocaust and 9/11 attacks.
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Mel Brooks says political correctness is the death of comedy.
- Thread starter justjohn
- Start date
Agree.
it's all about the approach and skill of the comedian. What comes to mind is someone like Larry David who can find and extract humor in things like the Holocaust and 9/11 attacks.
uncelestial
Member
He gets a pass. I don't think the guy who worked with Richard Pryor to create Blazing Saddles or penned Springtime for Hitler understands the hacks that run around trying to be edgy with sensitive topics. They are not brilliant and deft at walking the line like he is, they are fucking morons, like Daniel Tosh and Seth McFarlane, or just making a point of being offensive, like Doug Stanhope and Anthony Jeselnik. He is 91, why would his finger be on the pulse?
He is probably assuming everyone is as good as he was at what he does. He could make all the jokes he made in the day today and be fine, as long as people know his heritage, that Pryor wrote Blazing Saddles, etc. Or at least, he wouldn't catch any more flak than he already has.
He is probably assuming everyone is as good as he was at what he does. He could make all the jokes he made in the day today and be fine, as long as people know his heritage, that Pryor wrote Blazing Saddles, etc. Or at least, he wouldn't catch any more flak than he already has.
Catchpenny
Member
It's always been a thin line, and the comedians who can get right up to the edge of what a crowd will accept without crossing over are among the best of their generation.
Comedy changes with society. A lot of things in Mel's old films that were shocking and edgy then aren't really a big deal now. Some of the jokes that weren't a big deal then are less acceptable today, and might not make it into a current movie.
What has supposedly changed is that people are now scared that a vocal minority, the so-called SJWs, are going to scare the rest of us into turning on anything that could be offensive in the slightest. However, there's just no evidence to support it. Where are all of the comedians who have been shamed out of a career for minor indiscretions? Cosby drugged and raped women. Michael Richards called a guy the n-word repeatedly because he was mad at him. These are things a majority of people find abhorrent.
Comedy changes with society. A lot of things in Mel's old films that were shocking and edgy then aren't really a big deal now. Some of the jokes that weren't a big deal then are less acceptable today, and might not make it into a current movie.
What has supposedly changed is that people are now scared that a vocal minority, the so-called SJWs, are going to scare the rest of us into turning on anything that could be offensive in the slightest. However, there's just no evidence to support it. Where are all of the comedians who have been shamed out of a career for minor indiscretions? Cosby drugged and raped women. Michael Richards called a guy the n-word repeatedly because he was mad at him. These are things a majority of people find abhorrent.
Honestly, his movies have aged pretty well compared to other comedy of the time. It says a lot to how skilled Mel Brooks is. Springtime for Hitler is still one of those things you think, "I can't laugh at this, but holy shit I'm laughing at this." That's the mark of good risqué comedy.
Baron_Calamity
Member
Comedy today is completely PC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHAA-MGIyjc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHAA-MGIyjc
Gone Gold trailer for South Park
AndrewDean84xX
Banned
No lies detected.
And like others have pointed out, Mr. Brooks said he wouldn't do holocaust jokes. He didn't say no one should. I've never considered him to be a hypocrite, as he's made fun of his own community as well.
I'm pretty sure Jerry Seinfeld said something along the lines of political correctness is hurting comedy.
MidnightCowboy
Member
I don't know if I completely buy it, but I think there are certain jokes that people would be much more hesitant to make today. Blazing Saddles is fucking hilarious and I don't think you could get away with it today.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
You can't adapt as a comedian if you aren't that smart or interested in understanding society.
Then Jerry Seinfeld needs to show receipts, because so far like 40,000 comedians are getting prime stand up shows on Netflix now.
And you will never return to explain what you mean by this, so I'll just assume you really miss those old Friends episodes where the entire joke was that Chandler might be gay! Can you imagine?!
CrocMother
Banned
I mean Chappelle's show made jokes out of slavery and that was like 10-15 years ago.
uncelestial
Member
Name one way in which this has had an impact. Really all that was was putting a name to an instinct everyone already had.
Alligatorjandro
Banned
Political correctness isnt killing comedy
There is no line for comedy, except my line right over here.
On a more serious note, political correctness isn't "killing comedy". Changing attitudes towards social/political topics among mainstream audiences is what's killing traditional forms of comedy that relies on casual discrimination and stereotypes.
Which is fine, there's nothing wrong with that. Comedy changes with the times and audiences.
On a more serious note, political correctness isn't "killing comedy". Changing attitudes towards social/political topics among mainstream audiences is what's killing traditional forms of comedy that relies on casual discrimination and stereotypes.
Which is fine, there's nothing wrong with that. Comedy changes with the times and audiences.
Yep! The homegirl Tiffany Haddish just got one. Comedy is alive and well.
It just seems like a certain type of comedy is out of vogue...
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
It's just like what we've been saying on GAF about music for decades, as some people try to say music sucks "these days": If you aren't finding great, shocking comedy anymore, you aren't looking hard enough.
It's weird to say comedy doesn't or can't take risks anymore in the year of fucking Get Out.
Edit: Also, does Mel Brooks talk to millennials? Their sense of humor is often just bizarre. Memes are in, dude. It's got nothing to do with PC-ness, which somehow has been the death of comedy for 50 years now.
It's weird to say comedy doesn't or can't take risks anymore in the year of fucking Get Out.
Edit: Also, does Mel Brooks talk to millennials? Their sense of humor is often just bizarre. Memes are in, dude. It's got nothing to do with PC-ness, which somehow has been the death of comedy for 50 years now.
MidnightCowboy
Member
That's a long time in terms of entertainment. Times change, audiences change. Chappelle's Show was, and is, hilarious, but it also predates social media and I'd be willing to bet at least one of his skits would ruffle more feathers today than it did back then. Or at the very least, we'd know more easily about said ruffled feathers.
Yep. Millenials love memes, don't care for Brooks' era of comedy. I don't even know what Gen Z likes (aside from swedish neo nazis) and I'm sure I'll find it just as alien as Mel does when I laugh at pictures of cats with captions in broken English.
GitarooMan
Member
Time is what changes comedy, not political correctness. Some things that were funny in the 70s aren't so funny now and vice versa. Context is everything, and a lot of context happens in 40 years
Chmpocalypse
Blizzard
Yeah, I'd like to see some fucking receipts from all the people whining about how comedians are suffering because they can't shit on oppressed peoples anymore.
Snowybreak
Member
Oh man, I caught a few old episodes of that show, and yeah, there's a weird amount of homophobia in the humor. If the buildup is "he/she might be gay" and the punchline is "not gay, just misunderstood" then it just feels like they're reducing homosexuality into a punchline to poke fun at. I don't expect every show I watch to have a comprehensive positive image of the LGBTQ community, but if the humor is derived from poking fun at an individual's unchangeable characteristic, then it feels lazy and a bit insulting.
On Topic: Even though I love him and his work, I don't think he knows what he's talking about here. His movies always skirted that edge of acceptability, yet on many re-watches I think the humor is still fun and hits just as hard. I think the only joke in out of all his movies that I find a bit questionable is the "French Mistake" scene from Blazing Saddles. But even then, the scene is so over the top and absurd that I still laugh at it. Hell, I'd say that with the way he constructs his scenes and the way each joke lands, even the Drewish Princess bit still falls within the realm of acceptability.
excelsiorlef
Member
Inherent in the nebulously ill defined PC culture is ruining comedy argument is the assertion of entitlement. By that I mean the argument inherently boils down to comedians feel entitled to laughter from the audience and if they dont get it... it is never their fault.
IrishNinja
Member
we really have, and somehow the crowd that wants to say the n-word so very bad is always up for it
exactly - I love mel's work, but nah
Leatherface
Member
Mel Brooks is a comedic genius. He is absolutely right. If your feelings are hurt over comedy, it's most likely a personal problem. People need to relearn how relax a little bit and try not to be offended by absolutely everything. It's kind of sad that this is where we are at now as a society.
And here's the main point: So long as someone like (just as one example) Anthony Jeselnik still has an active career, saying political correctness is killing comedy is factually wrong.
There's seriously no getting around that immovable fact.
So perhaps when comedians like him disappear, there's some truth to the matter. Until then, people can stop dragging out this boogeyman any time now.
As pointed out by many in the thread, there is plenty of offensive comedy thriving at the moment.
People bemoaning the current state of society for comedy need to actually use specifics and not just talk about a generalized strawman of society.
CadetMahoney
Member
Type in yt:
Andrew Dice Clay - Immigrants
early 90's some crazy shit, he'd get arrested.
Taken from a similar thread in the past:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1359293
Andrew Dice Clay - Immigrants
early 90's some crazy shit, he'd get arrested.
Taken from a similar thread in the past:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1359293
So you're arguing we should bring back minstrel shows?
Master Of Illusion
Member
I mean as long as you're an equal opportunity offender, what the hell.
However, if that's your philosophy, the minute you create a line you won't cross you're a hypocrite.
However, if that's your philosophy, the minute you create a line you won't cross you're a hypocrite.
Atom Heart Mother
Banned
The problem begins with the terminally offended people who can't separate context from content. When bloggers decide to paraphrase or quote bits out of context, or websites like Salon or Jezebel misrepresent the tone of a comedian to make them seem like they're broadcasting their true thoughts on something (when clearly they're joking), it gets absurd.
entremet
Member
Howard Stern did some crazier stuff.
Duane Cunningham
Member
Jesus, lol. I watched the first minute or two and thought "eh, this isn't that bad, it's just a skit... late 80's SNL would have done this". Then Daniel Carver started talking, and holy shit. I wasn't familiar with this guy before.
Atom Heart Mother
Banned
It's actually hilarious, watch all of it. Daniel Carver was a regular on Howard's show a lot. Dude's fucking nuts.
Link some! I'm eager to see it!
A ton of people still love George Carlin today. He was one majorly talented dude.
Care to share what exactly you mean by that?
Snowybreak
Member
Ok, because I like clearing things up, what would you consider to be the reach of political correctness in this day and age, and specifically, what kinds of jokes do you think go against it?
Also, I still laugh at Murphy's specials, except for the kinda fucked up bit about hitting a woman.
DontBeThatGuy
Member
You pining for the days of this type of celebrated material?: Eddie Murphy - Faggots or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EwDoUVVRPM
uncelestial
Member
It's a shame because other than some misfires like this and the leather suits, Eddie Murphy's specials from the 80s are absolutely legendary. I'm sure Murphy himself has evolved past that bit and would say he regrets it now.
There definitely has been an evolution on certain groups of people not being pieces of shit that you can walk all over now, but that's hardly "ruining comedy." And you can still do that shit and have a career, just not one with unmitigated mainstream success. Then again, can any comedian have that kind of success in this hyper-fragmented media landscape?
It's not even that Eddie Murphy has to "regret" it, really.
It's ok to acknowledge that some things are of another time, and we as a society have moved on...
DontBeThatGuy
Member
I'm not talking about Mel Brooks right now, but btrboyev. There's some choice bits about Eddie's 80's comedy that should be considered hot trash today, not waxing nostalgic about.
I can't think of what else btrboyev would be talking about in regards to Eddie Murphy not being able to do his thing today.. So, I assume he misses shit like that.
uncelestial
Member
He already does regret it, actually, just googled it:
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/PAGE-ONE-After-15-Years-Actor-Apologizes-For-2982557.php
He's still a working actor and it wasn't that long ago, so it's good to address it rather than shrug and say it was from another time, imo. Comedians who have retired or passed, you have to be more like that though, and take the good with the bad. For example, Bill Hicks wasn't always very evolved in his material regarding women, but he was also brilliant and in general was a great leftist anti-authoritarian comedian. But he can't apologize for using the c-word now. It's up to us to contextualize it.
Totally; sorry about that, I realized I was making an aside and removed the Mel Brooks bit in my edit. Your post is right to call out to btrboyev -- even more ammo is the fact the Murphy himself disavows those bits, and has since 1996.
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