Social Class of Comedy

Much comedy in England turns on the frustrations and codes of social class. Do you think American comedy shares this focus? If not, what are American comedians tending to focus on? What does British and American comedy have in common?

Yes, I feel social class is a big issue in American comedy but i do not think it is the most popular issue for comics to hit on. Today when i watch comedy i find that race, political issues, and family life are the most common topics. Race has always been a huge issue in America and we have all seen white comics imitate black people and black comics imitate white people. I think they do this as a way to let people know that though this issue is old and some might feel worn out (like steroids in baseball) it is still very important that we bridge the gap between us all. I remember seeing Greg Geraldo makes jokes about his Latin heritage by poking fun at Texas and illegal immigrants saying that the news was reporting that Texas was being "overwhelmed" by Mexicans; like they where at war. Race in America will always be an issue of conversation like when Dave Chapelle saying how his white friend Craig can get out of a street racing ticket when he is high and drunk just by telling the officer "I didn't know I couldn't do that." That is a great story and joke when told by him but if you disect it a little it has to do with cops profiling against African Americans a major problem in our society.

Politics has become the bud of every joke it seems receintly from Daily Show to SNL there seems to be nothing greater then getting the president to look foolish on national television. Recently with the last 8 years of Bush and with the clinton sex scandel it seems that making fun of our nations leaders (Dick Cheney, Palin, George H.W. Bush, ect) is second hand on the comedy seen. It should be it gives people a platt form to be heard and makes people understand that we have the right and responsibility to question everything our government says. We can not take anything on face value.

Family life is always a big topic when comedians go on stage because your entire audience can relate to family life. My mother and I do not get along, my wife is kicking my ass (dont ever get married), kids there great... when they're yours, ect. Family life is the most common denominator between the audience and the comic I think that is why those jokes are so funny and so common. There is no trouble relating to how a husband is lazy or a wife nags where it can be difficult to get an audience that has your background socially. Not all of us grew up poor, we are not all well informed and therefore will get the joke about the speaker of the house, In Ohio illegal immigration is not that big of a problem.

The thing American comics and British comics have the most in common (that I have noticed) is the fact that they rip on the government just like us and recently they rip on our government officals alot. Class, Race, Sex, Drugs, Celebrities they talk about the same things our comics do but they put an importance on class because that i9s the big issue going on in England where as here it is economic crisis (political) and race.