Violence disguised as comedy

by Lady Lee 25 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  R6Laser

  Where do we draw the line? How about starting with not seeing something that offends you. If something in TV offends you then I would think you should have the common sense to turn it off. It starts with parents being vigilant on what their children get to see on tv or play in video games. The one thing that offends you might not offend someone else.

  That's one thing I can't stand about people who try to control everything, or make a big deal about violent tv shows or video games. It's not their choice to see them, if you don't like them fine, turn off the tv or shut down your computer. But to impose on a whole group of people and draw a line just because you think is offensive is just using the same kind of dogma the WTS is using. Have you ever heard of free will? I don't want to be told what I'm able to watch in tv, or play in my computer by someone else who thinks we should all think the same way.
• 

  Jim_TX

  Lady Lee - I haven't seen the promo that you are talking about - perhaps it is Canadian TV. I don't think I would find it funny... however...

  I grew up watching cartoons. Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, Popeye, etc. There is blatant violence in these cartoons... but I think that I knew that it wasn't 'real', and so didn't try to re-enact many of the stunts that Bugs or Wilie Coyote performed. (Unless it was play-acted out.)

  Comedy is funny - if it is performed properly.

  I often shake my head at what they put on TV - on 'America's Funniest Videos' - it seems that the more a person gets hurt - or almost hurt - the more it is enjoyed by the audience. I am always sitting there going 'Ouch!' - when someone falls - or gets banged in the head or whatever.

  It is also - I believe - why people always seem to rubber-neck at an accident scene. They have a morbid curiosity - trying to see if anyone got hurt - if there is blood, etc. I tend to not look. I'm not that curious.

  Regards,

  Jim TX
• 

  ringo5

  Part of comedy is surprise, the unexpected or absurd. But SURPRISE, some people may find the unexpected offensive. Obviously the commercial is not advocating some new teaching innovation, but it sounds like it's trying to use the absurd to get a laugh. Doesn't sound all that funny to me, but I only find the violence in the 3 stooges mildly amusing anyway. ( the Marx Brothers are much funnier if you ask me) If you don't think it's funny, likely you're going to find it offensive.

  All In The Family was CERTAINLY not advocating racism, but some found it offensive anyway because they didn't see the irony.

  Taken From Wikipedia:

  Mel Brooks on comedy and tragedy: "Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall down an elevator shaft and die."

  My guess is you don't rent too many Mel Brooks movies either.
• 

  Lady Lee

  wow people lighten up. I'm not advocating every one think the same.

  A lot of people draw the line in different places

  ringo5

  My guess is you don't rent too many Mel Brooks movies either.

  nope not-a-one
• 

  parakeet

  R6Laser: "I don't want to be told what I'm able to watch in tv, or play in my computer by someone else who thinks we should all think the same way."
  
  R6L, I think Lady Lee's question goes further than simply one's personal preferences in TV viewing. Does the viewing of constant violence in the media foster violence in society? I don't know the answer to that. Sometimes TV/movie violence seems horrible and unwarranted to me; I generally avoid it. But I've also seen slapstick comedy that's funny. Better minds than mine will have to decide this question.
• 

  ringo5

  That commercial really ticks me off

  vs

  wow people lighten up.

  Now that's funny.
• 

  hambeak

  I agree somewhat I don't care for extreme violence either it is not entertaining to me. I did like Archie Bunker though I felt that through his sattire he demonstrated just how stupid bigotry is. Jim tx had a good point about Americas funniest videos that the more people get hurt the funnier it is supposed to be I don't watch it. I do love good comedy though. not vulgar or people getting punched I guess my favorite was Candid Camera that was on years ago.
• 

  Gregor

  The Monty Python troupe used to do skits that were satire on extreme violence. I recall one about a garden party where limbs were lopped off and blood was spurting everywhere. It was very, very funny. And of course the scene in "Holy Grail" when the black knight kept getting limbs lopped off until he was just a head shouting defiance. I think it was inspired comedy. I agree that some slapstick just doesn't work. A case in point was the movie "Home Alone". The kid inflicted horrible injuries on the two hapless burglars and I actually cringed at some of the stunts. I guess it's all about how it is done, do you agree?
• 

  Stephanus

  Lately, here in Ottawa, there is a TV ad for a comedy show. It has a "teacher" in front of a 3 student class. The teacher says that when he asks a question everyone should put up their hand. If they fail to raise their hand he will get "this" and then he kicks one of the students in the face.(laugh track plays) While the "victim" holds his head in pain the teacher asks another question. Two students raise their hand but the other fellow is still holding his head. And he gets kicked in the head again and the laugh track plays again.

  Sounds like my father's descriptions of his school days!

  My kids keep telling me how glad they are that there's no cane at school anymore, whereas I disagree. The cane was quick, was applied immediately, and then you got on with your life. As opposed to today where infinite letters pass back and forth between school and parent until the child is eventually punished by detention or whatever, days or even weeks after they've forgotten what it was they even did, so no lesson is actually learned.

  Stephanus,

  of the "Bring back the birch!" class.
• 

  SirNose586

  I think it was inspired comedy. I agree that some slapstick just doesn't work. A case in point was the movie "Home Alone". The kid inflicted horrible injuries on the two hapless burglars and I actually cringed at some of the stunts.

  Yes, I remember some of the nasty things he did to Pesci and Stern. When that movie came out, the concept of actors who don't get hurt and the difference between a stunt and an actual violent act hadn't really cemented in my mind (I was 5 when it came out). I was disturbed by some of the booby traps he set up.

  Slapstick in the Three Stooges vein doesn't bother me. If it looks really painful--I can't watch.