Jokes Surrounding Mothers In Comedy

Jokes surrounding mothers is a large theme in comedy. From professional comedian’s jokes about mothers, like Dan Harmon’s raps on his podcast Harmontown to Louie CK’s interactions with his mother on the TV series Louie to young children sharing “Yo Momma” jokes on the bus, comedy focuses on the relationship people have with their mothers. But why do comedians choose to discuss this topic? And moreover why is it funny? The specific material of comedians, like C.K. and Harmon, and comedy shows that also use these jokes are a large example of why the relationship is utilized. Comedians’ ties to their parents are an influence on their comedy and how they set up their material. Beyond the importance of the relationship to comedians, people,

There have been incidents across time and place that suggest the significance of one’s relationship with his or her mother. These incidents speak more about why these jokes are common in relation to maternal insults. For instance, in many different cultures across the world, insulting someone’s mother is a source of comedy, much like that of the United States and the previously mentioned jokes. On example is seen by an Internet phenomenon that took over China regarding the mythical beast known as the "grass-mud horse". Though the translation does not mean the same thing in English, the insult is universal. The pronunciation of the name of this creature “sounds very much like an especially vile obscenity” (Wines). An insult about mothers; this is just a variation on the command to commit incest with one's mother that appear in every region of the globe. Anthropologists note that, across cultures, the most severe insults tend to involve a few basic themes: an opponent's family, an opponent's religion, or an opponent’s sex (Wines). By making a joke about someone’s mother, a person insults a personal aspect of another’s life. These jokes are used to make an impact and hurt someone on a deeper level and are used in many cultures. Another example is in Mediterranean cultures, where the relationship between mother and son is held as particularly sacred and largely religious. Many common jokes come from insulting this relationship and the three most important parts of the people’s lives. The jokes are relatable, because they mention these important points of mothers and religion. Incest is addressed with potency and jokes stating curses like “gamo ti mana sou”, “gamo tin Panagia sou”, and “gamo to Khristo sou” (f**k your mother, your madonna," and "your Christ," respectively) hold a larger meaning (Legman 172). They are able to discuss key