Reply to John Stewart and Dave Chapelle need to come together for a comedy/open discussion SPECIAL!

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

The problem is that the tropes get repeated with none of the nuance and intelligent dismantling that the comedian intended. [/quote]

But most comedy plays with tropes, and good comics construct thematic, purposeful sets so you get the point.

And good comics go after a rainbow of people using tropes, so no group is singled out. DC goes after everybody.

We can’t put certain groups “off limits.” Not when it comes to comedy.

[b]Context matters. Tropes in comedy are not the same as tropes in the workplace or on mainstream media.[/b] [/quote]

This. The fact that many people misunderstand this is not a reason to ban comedians from discussing certain topics.

Recall the episode of The Office where they have to bring in a sensitivity instructor because Michael has tried to do a bit from a Chris Rock standup routine that (1) was not office appropriate, and (2) should never be delivered by a white person. The fact that someone like Michael can misunderstand and misapply the comedy in that case is not a reason to ban Chris Rock from talking about race in his comedy, or playing with stereotypes of black people in his act. It’s a reason to condemn Michael and explain to him and others present why what he said was offensive in an office context where he is a white authority figure.

That’s JS’s point— you don’t gain anything by just telling comedians not to talk about certain topics. In a weirdly roundabout way, the Chris Rock routine does ultimately educate people in that fictional office on racism. And then the comedic episode of the office likely educated others.

Does that mean there won’t be an idiot who decides to quote Michael Scott quoting Chris Rock at his office holiday party? No. There are always idiots. But we can’t use them to justify censorship.[/quote]

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