Comedy should speak truth to power. It should always be aimed upward. When it's aimed downward, it's called bullying.
Interpretation
Comedy is most effective when it challenges those in power rather than targeting the vulnerable.
In this quote, Jimmy Dore emphasizes the role of comedy as a tool for social commentary. He believes that humor should critique and challenge authority figures and institutions, helping to reveal truths and injustices. When comedy shifts its focus to ridicule those who are already marginalized or weaker, it ceases to serve its purpose of enlightenment and becomes an act of bullying instead.
In practice
A comedian might use this quote as a rallying cry during a stand-up performance focused on social justice issues.
If you're using comedy to shame people for getting informed and questioning authority, you're not doing comedy, you're doing propaganda, 'cause comedy is supposed to poke holes in the status quo and challenge authority and question authority.
Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.
You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.
Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, and it holds the world together.
So that's why one of my rules of parody writing is that it's gotta be funny regardless of whether you know the source material. It has to work on its own merit.
Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one's wit at the expense of one's better nature.
Have you ever noticed that the lawyer always smiles more than the client?
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