Comedy in the World of Political Correctness - Jillian Lederman
Picture From https://mubi.com/films/john-mulaney-new-in-town
Of all the areas impacted by the modern world’s rising commitment to political correctness, comedy appears to be one of the hardest hit. Comedy, a genre typically predicated on poking fun at someone or something, naturally clashes with the idea that offensive words and ideas should be avoided at all cost. It follows, then, that many popular comedians have been extensively criticised for jokes that have gone “too far.” In 2019, Dave Chappelle drew a tirade of online criticism for his Netflix special, Sticks & Stones, during which some believed he made jokes that were transphobic and that dismissed victims of sexual assault. Ironically, that same special includes a reference to Kevin Hart, who was widely villified after the reemergence of years-old tweets implying that he would punish his son if he turned out to be gay. In today’s hyper-politically correct climate, Hart was labeled as homophobic and was pressured to resign from his position hosting the 2019 Oscars. In Sticks & Stones, however, Chappelle declares, “clearly Kevin was joking.”
Which brings us back to the conflict between comedy and political correctness, and to the question: “Can jokes be funny if they’re not allowed to be offensive?” Some would say no, arguing that comedy is meant to be shocking, and that we laugh at jokes primarily because they epitomize everything true about society that we are simply too scared to say aloud. Others would say yes, pointing to one of the modern world’s most popular comedians: John Mulaney. John Mulaney, who was previously a writer on Saturday Night Live and has since been seen in both Netflix specials and acting roles, appears to have defied the politically correct odds to become a wildly popular, hilariously funny celebrity—without being offensive. Particularly among young people, who are often known for making up the most “fragile” demographic, Mulaney is a household name.
How does John Mulaney manage to be both funny and unproblematic? Having watched much of Mulaney’s work, I’ve noticed that his style and subject matter are entirely different from most other popular—and controversial—comedians. Rather than tackling polarizing social issues, such as transgenderism or abortion, Mulaney spends most of his shows making fun of himself. In one Netflix special called John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City, Mulaney speaks of his whirlwind college experience, declaring “College was like a four-year game show called Do My Friends Hate Me or Do I Just Need to Go to Sleep?” Later in the show, Mulaney admits, “When I walk down the street, I need everybody, all day long, to like me so much. It’s exhausting.” Mulaney expresses a wry form of self-deprecating humor, one that resonates particularly well with the younger generations. Millennials and Generation Zers may too often take offense to criticism from others, but we are magnificent at criticising ourselves, particularly when it comes to mental health. Social media is overflowing with teenagers comparing themselves to trash, joking about social anxiety, and laughing through the pain of loneliness—essentially adopting humor as a cover for their insecurities. John Mulaney does exactly the same, and it has young people flocking to him in droves. The best part of this type of humor is it conquers the dilemma of political correctness. After all, the only person who could possibly get offended by it is yourself.
Here’s the thing: I would never advocate restrictions being put on the words comedians can say or the ideas they can express. To me, preserving freedom of speech is far more important than protecting feelings, and if people are offended by a certain comedian, they can simply refrain from watching. And yet, if John Mulaney’s success is anything to go by, it is certainly possible to be funny without being politically incorrect. Even when Mulaney strays into political topics, he maintains a surprisingly neutral stance, making jokes about aspects of the political world that most people from all positions along the political spectrum can get behind. I highly encourage everyone to search Mulaney’s “horse in the hospital” joke, one that pokes fun at Donald Trump’s unconventional style of leadership without actually getting into a discussion on policy. The joke is hilarious, and though some may dislike its message, it puts a refreshingly unifying spin on what has and continues to be a highly polarizing presidency.
None of this is to criticize comedians who adopt a different strategy, or who may offend some but make many more laugh. If political correctness brings an end to the type of shockingly outrageous comedy that draws gasps interspersed with laughter, it will be a loss for the world at large. And yes, there is merit to the idea that we should all tame our tendency to take offense to any joke that strays into the dangerous realm of “politically incorrect.” In the end, being outraged takes far more energy than simply laughing a joke away.
That being said, I would also object to the idea that John Mulaney’s unproblematic style is a copout. Some might say that Mulaney does not have the courage to tackle “real” issues or to speak his mind on some of the most polarizing topics in the modern world. But Mulaney has a different, yet still immensely valuable, type of courage: the courage to laugh at himself. Young people may refuse to find any humor in many social issues, but many of us also know how not to take ourselves too seriously. More often than not, we are the butts of our own jokes, and we identify with this same pattern in John Mulaney’s comedy. Mulaney is not brash or rude, nor does he adopt the tough-guy personality often demonstrated by other comedians. Rather, he is humble and delightfully weird, and because of this, young people have adopted him as one of their own.
In the end, comedy is, and should remain, wonderfully diverse. Dave Chappelle’s Sticks & Stones, despite being destroyed by critics, has incredibly high audience ratings. John Mulaney’s Kid Gorgeous earned a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. These two specials feature entirely different forms of comedy, and yet there are audiences for both. Perhaps the young people who have adopted today’s politically correct standards will never understand Chappelle’s humor, and perhaps others do not find Mulaney’s self-deprecating style funny. But if there is anything to learn from all of this, it is that laughter is precious, and it should be sought in any way possible. Laugh at the world, laugh at each other, laugh at all the strange things that happen in our society. And, once in a while, take some time to laugh at yourself, too.
