Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Let’s dive headfirst, shall we? There’s an elephant in the room, and it’s wearing a “politically correct” banner as a loin cloth. Apparently, some of our fellow jesters think that PC culture has clamped down like a chastity belt on the loins of comedy. It’s choking, it’s suffocating, it’s—oh, wait—it’s actually not that big of a deal when you think about it.
First of all, let’s get one thing straight: comedy has always evolved. It’s less of a straight line and more of a squiggle, like something drawn by a child who’s had too much sugar. Gone are the days of slapstick without context, and in are the days where you actually have to think before you speak. What a novel concept!
Now, some folks lament these changes, reminiscing about the good old days when you could say anything about anyone and everyone would laugh. Oh, how the nostalgia goggles tint the world. The truth is, the good old days weren’t always that good—they were just old. They were days when unchecked comedy trampled over people’s real lived experiences like they were nothing more than a setup for a punchline. Yeah, that’s right. Your trauma is my Tuesday night opener.
Here’s the kicker, the growth of PC culture isn’t the encroachment of an over-sensitive brigade bent on censoring your freedom to be a jerk—it’s just asking you to, God forbid, think about what comes out of your mouth. Is it funny? Or is it just easy? Because let’s face it, punching down has always been the easy route. It’s lazy. Real humor, the kind that lasts and doesn’t need to be whispered in backrooms or shouted in a dimly lit dive bar, finds its basis in something other than someone else’s expense.
Why are we so afraid of being sensitive anyway? Since when did sensitivity become the kryptonite to the Superman that is comedy? If anything, sensitivity opens up new avenues of humor that aren’t just the same old hackneyed paths. It challenges you to play with ideas, not stereotypes. To mock the powerful, not the powerless. The thing about laughter is it’s universal—why should anyone be alienated from experiencing it?
Sure, it might take a tad more effort to craft a joke that doesn’t rely on outdated prejudices. You might even have to crack open a book, or gasp, talk to someone different than you. But the payoff isn’t just a bigger audience. It’s a better joke. The best comedians adapt and overcome, not whine about the new rules.
And let’s face it, some of the complaints about PC culture are just comedians being nostalgic for the days when they could say anything. Well, times change. Audiences evolve. And so should comedy. What worked in a smoky club in the 1980s might not fly in the 2020s, and that’s not the audience’s fault. It’s not censorship. It’s evolution.
So, to those mourning the death of so-called “real comedy,” maybe what you’re really pining for is a time when no one questioned your authority to punch wherever you wanted. But here’s a newsflash—the king is dead, and the court jester now has to entertain a diverse court.
In conclusion, comedy is not weaker with a sprinkle of sensitivity. It’s richer, it’s smarter, and it’s a hell of a lot more interesting. We’ve got more flavors now than just vanilla and every now and then, who doesn’t want a taste of something new? So, instead of whining about the PC “crap” why not rise to the challenge and show us what you’re made of? After all, it’s only comedy. If you can’t laugh at yourself and adapt, then what in the heck are we all doing here?
Source: Jerry Seinfeld’s Crotchety Whining About ‘P.C. Crap’ Comedy Gets It All Wrong
