May 15, 2021
“Cancel Culture” is a term that has become more prevalent. In the world of comedy, it’s one step further down the path of political correctness. Today we talk about what it is, how it affects comedy, and what comedians can do to neutralize its invasion of our art form.
Webster defines cancel culture as “a way of behaving in society or group, especially on social media, in which it is common to completely reject and stop supporting someone because they have said or done something that offends you.”
But here’s here is the thing. Stand-up comedy specifically is your opinion, your thought, and your attempt to make somebody laugh. That’s what standup comedy is. It’s your opinion, your thought, your attempt to make somebody laugh. And that is important. It should be about trying to get people to laugh.
Standup comedy is an art form with its primary focus on generating laughs, but it has evolved over time into an art form that can also be used to address social issues, advance one’s agenda, or potentially lead others to change their thought or alter their beliefs.
And then evolution is the tricky part because that’s what is rubbing up against the edges of cancer culture because now you’re taking your belief system and challenging someone else’s or challenging someone else’s with yours, and you start taking a stance against things. That tension can lead to some friction, some push back.
We tackle this evolutionary overlap in today’s episode.
COUNTERING CANCEL CULTURE
Specifically, we talk about:
- The definition of comedy and cancel culture
- What causes people to be offended
- How comedians leave themselves vulnerable to it
- What comics can do to prevent attacks
- The reason you need to know your target in a joke
- Different types of targets
- “The Planet is Fine” routine by George Carlin
- How to back up your opinions like George Carlin
- What I think about Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Why you should work on your craft
- What Jon Stewart thinks about Thanksgiving
- How assumption and cancel culture go hand in hand
And a whole lot more!
(c)(p) 2021 The Rik Roberts School of Laughs