Is comedy dying? Jimmy Carr has been widely condemned for an "abhorrent" joke about victims of the Holocaust. The row is the latest in a long line of comedians “going too far”.
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Jimmy Carr backlash over Traveller gag
Is comedy dying? Jimmy Carr has been widely condemned for an "abhorrent" joke about victims of the Holocaust. The row is the latest in a long line of comedians "going too far".
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Is comedy dying?
Yes: Comedians know their careers could be ended if people take offence at their jokes. As a result they have started to censor themselves - but comedy can only flourish when the imagination works freely.
No: Comedians always thrive on controversy. The more some people complain about a joke, the more others will want to see him perform. We all enjoy being shocked: the riskier the material the better.
Or... It is perfectly possible to make people laugh without offending them. Some jokes focus on the differences between people, but there is lots of comedy to be found in the things we all have in common.
Keywords
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust - A charity founded by the British government to support the annual commemoration.
Victoria Coren Mitchell - A journalist and TV personality. She is married to the comedian David Mitchell.
David Baddiel - A comedian and writer. Like Coren Mitchell, he is a friend of Jimmy Carr's, and also Jewish.
Life of Brian - The film is about someone who is born at the same time as Jesus and is constantly mistaken for him.
Jimmy Carr backlash over Traveller gag
Glossary
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust - A charity founded by the British government to support the annual commemoration.
Victoria Coren Mitchell - A journalist and TV personality. She is married to the comedian David Mitchell.
David Baddiel - A comedian and writer. Like Coren Mitchell, he is a friend of Jimmy Carr’s, and also Jewish.
Life of Brian - The film is about someone who is born at the same time as Jesus and is constantly mistaken for him.