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I made this list the other day, seems like there are several topics that comedians all attempt to address - retard and midget jokes come to mind immediately and social topics like race and sexual preference. Not a lot of people tackling transgender, but that's the real challenge I think, not just to shock but to actually make the issues approachable for at least the sake of free speech if there's a legitimate point.
Comedy is used for addressing dark subjects, and humor can be the result of building tension and making people uncomfortable, but also the idea of saying lucid and outside of the subject which may help create a more objective point of view or put the dark subject into perspective or context.
Example 1: The Aristocrats joke told by Gilbert Godfrey after 9/11 - had nothing to do with 9/11, but the raw nature of his very graphic and sordid joke served to break the tension and enormous gravity of the tragic event - pure escapism.
Example 2: Comedy Central Roasts - the whole point being to say things that might be hurtful if it weren't for understanding the point is to roast. I thought it was interesting to hear that those being roasted already pre-approve the topics or jokes ahead of time - Charlie Sheen said no jokes about his mother.
who has license - why white or heterosexuals cannot make jokes about other minority groups or women
The woking list of taboo topics:
all vulnerabilities: tragedies
personal insecurities and public humiliation - any vice, failure, physical appearance
low brow - midgets, retards, sex, bathroom humor, body parts
tragic events like 9/11, the holocaust, slavery, mass shootings, suicide, murder, abortion
death
abuse, animal abuse, molestation, rape
drugs
prostitution
male taboos - being closeted or unmasculine
female taboos - being slutty or unfeminine
Sexual acts condemned by society, religion, or considered perversion:
homosexuality, incest, beastiality, sodomy, pornography
racism, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny
irreverence towards religion or religious figures
irreverence towards political groups or officials
old people
illness and death
mental illness
disability
being ugly
obesity
violence, threats
drunk driving
seven deadly sins: vices: jim gaffigan - gluttony - brian regan - feeling stupid, shame, rage
louis ck - being a pervert, hating children, gluttony, shame
Use of sarcasm
