being politically correct and overly sensitive? I myself believe that many things(I see it in my older sister) have become overly sensitized. By making these topics "too hot to touch" can anything actually be achieved? By radically protecting an issue no discussion can be made. The Colbert Report, on July 31, 2014(a link will be provided at the bottom), touched on this with the Gaza crisis.In the mini-sketch Colbert tried to report on the event without using any "trigger words" or loaded language. His final sentence ended up being, "More on the latest in these shooty-places..(many mistakes)...Today things occured...You know what let's forget it this entire thing is complete f***** b******* anyways." While it obviously isn't a perfect example it does show how if one is so unable to talk about things nothing can be said and then no one will know what's going on.
In Summary:
Where is the line between jokes and insensitivity?
Where is the line between oversensitivity and politically correct?
What side of the scale, overly-sensitive, insensitive, just right, do you think South Park is on? The
Colbert Report? The Daily Show? The nation? And discuss a little on why and how we can improve.
How do you think we can, as a nation, make things more discussable?
Which is your favorit? The Daily Show? Or the Colbert Report?
1 comment:
Addressing your first two questions through the first, I believe jokes and insensitivity actually in a sort of ying-yang balance, as they sort of complement each other. The issue is rather with audience sensitivity rather than comedy's insensitivity The biggest flaw modern insensitivity is that it is simply another outlet of human subjectivity. We are sensitive to what we feel strongly about and can laugh at what we don't care about as much. A Time Magazine feature with comedians Key and Peele earlier this year discussed this issue exactly. I can't quote it exactly, but the general gist of the article was having this sort of healthy balance. Because of the subjectivity of sensitivity, it is impossible to remain completely safe from criticism and outcry, because someone or some group will always find even the slightest thing to be utter blasphemy. The solution is just for comedians to recognize the range of comedy and for lack of a better term, "ignore the haters." Insensitivity is the basis of good comedy, as it pokes fun of the inherent fallacy of mankind. In regards to South Park, I believe sort of giving tags to a scale for comedy and "PC"ness is sort of arbitrary. The respective influences of insensitivity and comedy are things that can be left for a viewer to determine for themselves. How else would South Park remain on TV even with all the outcry against it? Shows like the Colbert Report and The Daily Show are more formal mediums for this comedic insensitivity, which I believe contributes to the general worldliness and progressive mindset of society.
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