Humor In The Last Laugh By Steve Harvey
The concept of using humor is justifiable when explained by Robert Clary. Humor seems to have been an incredible outlet for him throughout the Holocaust and throughout his life, just as it is for others who have to deal with personal tragedies. One of the most notable comedians is Steve Harvey who was forced to crack jokes on-stage while coping with the very recent, heavy loss of his father (Yu, 2000). There are also many notable comedians in the film, The Last Laugh, who have gone through their own tragedies to get to the point where they feel comfortable in turning that tragedy into humor. Their ability to turn other people’s tragedies into humor has not seemed to sit well with others though.
The disagreement between comedians (and their …show more content…
He continues to explain that his jokes are not to offend the survivors, but rather to show his disapproval and hatred towards Hitler and the Nazi Party. Mel Brooks was not the first to present this idea, and he will not be the last. Ezell (2012) explains that jokes were made about Hitler far before the attack on Pearl Harbor, and an early Captain America issue included the superhero attacking Hitler. Ezell continues to proclaim that “many jokes that use the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler as their subject matter attempt to find amusement through the disparagement of this group and person” (p. 14). There are points in which the line is crossed though with these jokes, and that is when they are in regards to those who suffered miserable deaths, the survivors, and about family members who are related to the victims or survivors of the Holocaust. In the cases that these jokes are made, Sarah Silverman (The Last Laugh) states that “it (the joke) HAS to be funny and that you never know how the audience will receive the joke” (Pearlstein, 2016). Ultimately, it is left up to the audience to determine for themselves whether the joke is funny, too offensive, or both. Something that seems to be disregarded by the comedians in The Last Laugh
The disagreement between comedians (and their …show more content…
He continues to explain that his jokes are not to offend the survivors, but rather to show his disapproval and hatred towards Hitler and the Nazi Party. Mel Brooks was not the first to present this idea, and he will not be the last. Ezell (2012) explains that jokes were made about Hitler far before the attack on Pearl Harbor, and an early Captain America issue included the superhero attacking Hitler. Ezell continues to proclaim that “many jokes that use the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler as their subject matter attempt to find amusement through the disparagement of this group and person” (p. 14). There are points in which the line is crossed though with these jokes, and that is when they are in regards to those who suffered miserable deaths, the survivors, and about family members who are related to the victims or survivors of the Holocaust. In the cases that these jokes are made, Sarah Silverman (The Last Laugh) states that “it (the joke) HAS to be funny and that you never know how the audience will receive the joke” (Pearlstein, 2016). Ultimately, it is left up to the audience to determine for themselves whether the joke is funny, too offensive, or both. Something that seems to be disregarded by the comedians in The Last Laugh