The only rule in comedy…
I confess my first impression of Karith Foster was critical. So critical that I even referenced her in a graded paper for my Feminist Thought class.
It was 2007 and Don Imus had infamously called the Rutger’s women’s basketball team “nappy headed ho’s” on talk radio show.
After his suspension from being on the air, Karith Foster who joined his show, ostensibly to help him recover from the scandal — but also because she believed that she had an important perspective to offer his millions of listeners, which she most certainly did and does.
Karith wowed me.
My impression of her transformed with her insights.
In Stereotyped 101, Karith’s program for engaging meaningfully in diversity and inclusion, she teaches participants to cultivate C.A.R.E.:
Conscious empathy
Active listening
Responsible reactions
Environmental awareness
Based on these values, it seems clear that there could be a tension between what is funny and what reflects the values expressed in CARE. The provocative 2016 documentary Can We Take A Joke? examined some of these tensions.
This film examines censorship, outrage culture in the age of social media, and the role of comedy to challenge social norms.The film worries that we’re but “one clumsy joke away from public ruin” and asks what future becomes when we can no longer take jokes.
Karith believes that there is only one rule in comedy: IT HAS TO BE FUNNY!
The rules in comedy are this: All is fair in love and comedy, but it has to be funny. There is a fine line between being funny and malicious. But it’s a distinct line, and when you cross it, I think something should be said. And I think you should be held accountable. — Karith Foster
That’s the only rule.
Given this Golden Rule and Karith’s admirable stance against censorship as depicted in Can We Take A Joke?, I’m especially curious what Karith’s reaction might be right now to Kathy Griffin’s latest scandal in which she is photographed with a bloody effigy of the President’s head.
The internet, celebrities, and elected officials responded negatively to Griffin instantly. CNN cancelled her New Year’s gig. She issued an apology, stating that comedian’s are supposed to cross lines, but that she went too far.
On the other hand, her photographer argued that this this was art. He is not sorry.
Is this censorship? Was it comedy? What do you think?
Please weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below.
