We've just compiled a list of our favorite comedians and its not shocking that most of these comedians were Jewish or had what they called a sense of Jewish humor in them. It should be made clear that Jewish humour doesn't imply making fun of Jews but Jews having a laugh at themselves, in a self-deprecating way. Take the likes of Woody Allen, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, Seth Rogen, the list goes on. So what makes these men funny or what is it about Jewish humour that tickles a funny bone for people from across the world? This dialogue between funny men, Ricky Gervais and Larry David gives a better insight about Jewish humour-
“RG: I love Jewish humour but I don't know exactly what it is. What is Jewish humour?
LD: There's a lot of complaining, I guess - being dealt a bad hand, the weight of the world upon your shoulders. There's also a certain rhythm to the way Jews talk that might be funny.
RG: Yiddish is funny already. I wanted to learn Yiddish.
LD: There's a jazz to it. And oppression would lead to humour, would it not?”
It is funny if a Jewish comedian jokes about his ancestory and past but is it funny if a non-jewish person jokes about the same? Ricky Gervais fell into a controversy regarding the same when he joked about Anne Frank. In his defence he said “I have had that routine for nearly 10 years now. It is about the misunderstanding and ignorance of what is clearly a tragic and horrific situation. My comic persona is that of a man who speaks with great arrogance and authority but who along the way reveals his immense stupidity.
In this particular routine, I envisage an almost slapstick version of the Nazis entering the home of Anne Frank on a daily basis and always failing to bother to "look upstairs".
I even have one of them suggest, "Looking upstairs today, Sarge?" The officer replies, "No, let's move on."
The first Nazi then says: "What's that tapping sound?" - as I mime using an old fashioned typewriter. Again the joke here is the supremely stupid assumption that Anne Frank obliviously and noisily typed her diary.
The Sarge (who I am portraying as a lazy and incompetent Nazi) answers, "Mice! Move on".
The final layer of ignorance in the routine is that, instead of taking the obvious and correct stance that Nazis were disgusting, immoral and evil, I merely conclude that they were "rubbish" because of their inability to find Anne Frank earlier - like it was all part of a big, mutually agreed game of hide-and-seek.
I can see if you took this routine at face value as my real opinion on this profound and heroic tragedy, it could be deemed highly offensive. However, this is obviously an absurd comic position with the audience well in on the joke, fully aware that I am saying the exact opposite of what every right-minded person thinks.
(http://www.thejc.com/news/world-news/66593/ricky-gervais-why-its-kosher-joke-about-anne-frank)
There is such a thin line between funny and racist. Being a fan of Ricky Gervais and knowing where his humour is coming from I stand by him. Also, in my opinion comedians must be given a leeway to perform their materials and not be taken at face value.
NG
“RG: I love Jewish humour but I don't know exactly what it is. What is Jewish humour?
LD: There's a lot of complaining, I guess - being dealt a bad hand, the weight of the world upon your shoulders. There's also a certain rhythm to the way Jews talk that might be funny.
RG: Yiddish is funny already. I wanted to learn Yiddish.
LD: There's a jazz to it. And oppression would lead to humour, would it not?”
It is funny if a Jewish comedian jokes about his ancestory and past but is it funny if a non-jewish person jokes about the same? Ricky Gervais fell into a controversy regarding the same when he joked about Anne Frank. In his defence he said “I have had that routine for nearly 10 years now. It is about the misunderstanding and ignorance of what is clearly a tragic and horrific situation. My comic persona is that of a man who speaks with great arrogance and authority but who along the way reveals his immense stupidity.
In this particular routine, I envisage an almost slapstick version of the Nazis entering the home of Anne Frank on a daily basis and always failing to bother to "look upstairs".
I even have one of them suggest, "Looking upstairs today, Sarge?" The officer replies, "No, let's move on."
The first Nazi then says: "What's that tapping sound?" - as I mime using an old fashioned typewriter. Again the joke here is the supremely stupid assumption that Anne Frank obliviously and noisily typed her diary.
The Sarge (who I am portraying as a lazy and incompetent Nazi) answers, "Mice! Move on".
The final layer of ignorance in the routine is that, instead of taking the obvious and correct stance that Nazis were disgusting, immoral and evil, I merely conclude that they were "rubbish" because of their inability to find Anne Frank earlier - like it was all part of a big, mutually agreed game of hide-and-seek.
I can see if you took this routine at face value as my real opinion on this profound and heroic tragedy, it could be deemed highly offensive. However, this is obviously an absurd comic position with the audience well in on the joke, fully aware that I am saying the exact opposite of what every right-minded person thinks.
(http://www.thejc.com/news/world-news/66593/ricky-gervais-why-its-kosher-joke-about-anne-frank)
There is such a thin line between funny and racist. Being a fan of Ricky Gervais and knowing where his humour is coming from I stand by him. Also, in my opinion comedians must be given a leeway to perform their materials and not be taken at face value.
NG
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