Effects Of Stereotyping In Comedy

The use of stereotypes in comedy has always had effects on the audience. While the main objective of comedians is making the audience laugh, there have been mixed reactions towards the effect of the stereotypes that they induce. Some people feel that the use of stereotypes in comedy has created more harm than good. In this regard, it is imperative to consider how stand-up comedy relates to stereotyping and the end results it creates.

Comedy is the art of creating and releasing jokes professionally to ensure that the audience has a reason to laugh. In this regard, comedy works towards ensuring that people get at ease and has something to smile about (Stoller 84). Comedy works by discussing what is happening in society and giving it a humorous

This means that a group is tainted with a particular character just because an individual from the same group behaves as such. The stereotyping is meant to drive home a message, mainly to make something that looks serious to be taken as comedic. Stereotyping could be used for all the negative reasons. The intention is determined by the deliverer of a message. The effect is manifested in the reaction of the audience. Comedy, as well as the stereotyping, takes place in society. Thus, society presents the culture in a way that guides the character as well as the perception of the people. Therefore, the culture from which the audience hails from determines the manner in which they will perceive a joke (Thonon 198). The audience may take a joke as offensive or true, depending on their perception of the stereotypes being used. The use of stereotypes in comedy indicates the tendency to leave the audience in a state of one-sided image. This is because the comedians try to be consistent in what they say or do on the stage. In this regard, they tend to create more liking to one side and more hate to the other (Lee 5). For example, the “Proper English vs. the American English” seems to create a one-sided image. From the wording and title itself, the comedy tries to show that the American English is not proper

Many comedians find themselves using the same stereotypes that have received major criticism in the society. In the two comedies presented, stereotyping is seen to take the forefront of the jokes being created. Though the use of stereotyping in comedy is seen to have both positive and negative impacts, the negative side carries the day. The stereotypes determine the direction of perception for the audience and the society as a whole. As a result, it has led to the deepening of rifts among different people across the world. As much as it is difficult to stop the overall use of stereotyping in comedy, it is necessary that comedians do it responsibly in order to not create more harm in the name of