Of clean fun and cruel jokes
WE are not joining the fray. This piece is all about setting things right.
Clearly, there is an abyss of difference between jokes and clean fun over and about plain contempt.
Jokes please the senses, whether it is directed at you personally or to anybody. It is purely a funny story: a story, anecdote, or wordplay that is intended to amuse, says my friend Encarta. Its effect gives a sense of light-heartedness on people, a common cause for camaraderie as it naturally encourages well-being and peace among people whom the jester wanted to please.
In the olden days, court jesters were employed by monarchs to entertain guests. The main function of the jester is to make jokes, or perform comic acts that tickled the funny bones of their audience.
The elements and techniques of comedy are diverse and differ from culture to culture. More than tragedy or serious drama, comic entertainment is controlled by social conventions that define the boundaries of acceptable humor and topics that are taboo or off-limits for humor. What is considered funny in one place and time may be forbidden culturally or viewed as infantile or in poor taste in another. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009.)
It is important for the joker, or stand-up comedian or jester (of old) that he or she makes clean fun, something that does not offend the senses, because doing so would run counter to the original intention of pleasing the senses.
In our country, I have observed some stand-up comedians to be offensive to their audience, making some people in the audience targets of fun and cruel jokes, thus, naturally turning off the real fun, making it sour and distasteful. Sadly, it seems that this has become the order of the day for some stand-up comedians performing in clubs and joints, and even those working in the reel world. This is the kind of ‘comedy’ that this controversial issue is all about.
Thus while it is true that it was only ‘plain joke’ as argued, making fun of a taboo subject such as the crime against women is definitely a no-no, and comedians must always remember that there are limits that must be observed. While we can poke fun on peoples’ ways and behaviors, it is always out of context when the subject of jokes cannot defend themselves.
It is therefore a must for such kind of entertainers to constantly be conscious of what they are about to perform on stage, or utter to illicit laughter, or cite some other people to be the subject of entertainment. They can do this by going back to the study room, research and find stock knowledge that would make them more effective to their audience.
When people get hurt because of a cruel joke, then the comedian or jester earns his or her fame at the expense of other people, be they ordinary folks or those looked up to with high regard for their exemplary work. It simply leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
That means an entertainer does not serve the interest of pure fun that is supposed to please the senses and well-being but cruelty. Sadly, however, this kind of comedy has been the ‘order of the day’ wherever one goes in places supposed be relaxing.
It is always possible to have fun naturally with people who are gifted with such qualities and abilities. A true comedian will always make people laugh, and we have known many of them in the past, and most of the time, their comic performances are not forced but comes out naturally.