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Dianne Williamson: Rare talent needn't tread lightly on taboo topics Comment By Dianne Williamson The Telegram & Gazette MailTribune.com By Dianne Williamson The Telegram & Gazette Posted May. 19, 2015 at 8:24 AM By Dianne Williamson The Telegram & Gazette Posted May. 19, 2015 at 8:24 AM » Social News I’ve always found good comedy akin to Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s famous definition of hard-core pornography: I can’t explain it, but I know it when I see it. So when I heard that comedian Louis C.K. had caused outrage with a monologue on “Saturday Night Live” that included jokes about racism, child molestation and the Middle East, I had to see it. Louis is no stranger to edgy humor. He frequently plays with taboo topics and material traditionally considered off limits, which is one of the many reasons I adore him. The main reason? He’s funny. And funny excuses many sins. His monologue Saturday night was classic Louis C.K. He opened with a discussion of race and growing up in the 1970s, and said he has “mild racism” that’s “benign” and “not aggressive.” He compared the ongoing Palestinian and Israeli fights to that of his young children and called the Middle East enemies “little (expletives).” Then he riffed on what is perhaps the most taboo topic in the universe when it comes to comedy. “In the ’70s, there was a child molester who lived in my hometown,” he said. “And it wasn’t a big deal … it was just like, that’s the house where the child molester lives.” He described the neighborhood attitude this way: “Hey kids, don’t be stupid, you’ll get molested, just stay away from the child molester house — I know because he did something to me when I was your age.” He then noted that child molesters are universally reviled, yet they continue to offend. “From their point of view, it must be amazing, for them to risk so much.” He joked that he loves Mounds bars, but he’d give them up if they could land him in jail for life. The comedian knew full well that his humor was pushing the envelope. As some members of the audience groaned, he said, “How do you think I feel? It’s my last show, probably.” The twitterverse predictably exploded, because it’s much easier to be offended than to acknowledge that even taboo topics can be funny when handled by a unique and gifted comic. Many folks expressed outrage, disgust and offense. One woman wrote that her “heart aches for humanity” because of the monologue. Another said it “just made me feel yucky.” Someone else called it “the unfunniest, most offensive SNL monologue I’ve ever seen.” Meanwhile, headline writers had no qualms about taking the edgy monologue out of context: “Outrage as controversial comedian spends five minutes rationalizing child molesters in bizarre joke on SNL,” wrote The Daily Mail. Other publications claimed he equated pedophilia with the joys of eating sweets. Sigh. Does anyone truly believe that Louis C.K. thinks it’s funny when a child is molested? Of course not. Could his jokes be considered offensive? Sure. But like any artist worth his salt, the best comics take risks. They don’t always succeed. Before you judge, however, I suggest you watch the monologue yourself. Some of our smartest comics have made jokes about rape, homosexuality and even the Holocaust. Sarah Silverman has made ample use of the Holocaust in her material, referring to her show “Jesus is Magic” as “about the Holocaust and AIDS, but it’s funny, and it’s a musical.” In his debut as host of the Oscars, when Seth MacFarlane announced the nominations for Best Picture, he joked about “Amour”: “The last time Austria and Germany got together and co-produced something it was Hitler, but this is much better.” Writers of the satirical online magazine The Onion are frequently offensive and consistently hilarious. They get away with it because they’re funny and we respect them. The world can be awful, and laughter is precious. “There’s a formula in stand-up comedy,” Australian comic Jim Jefferies told the humor magazine Splitsider. “The more offensive the joke, the funnier it has to be.” The profane humor of Louis C.K. makes us laugh. He can joke about the most heinous crime imaginable and it’s somehow funny. I can’t explain it, but I know it when I see it. So let’s lighten up and appreciate the rare performers who find comic gold where others dare not mine. Dianne Williamson is a columnist for The Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette. By Dianne Williamson The Telegram & Gazette MailTribune.com By Dianne Williamson The Telegram & Gazette Posted May. 19, 2015 at 8:24 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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