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Humour

Is Laughter Liberating or Cruel?

Alfie Bown investigates different categories of laughter.

Comedy has become a pressure point for contemporary culture. It flares up in debates about censorship, cancellation, progressivism, and even fascism. An obvious example would be the now infamous Oscars ceremony at which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife – on a stage that’s renowned for its ‘roasting’ humour. This provoked anxiety among those on stage and those off it, leading to arguments about the overstepping of boundaries. Other examples might include recent controversies over Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle, or the fallout over Paul Currie ejecting a guest who refused to applaud the Palestine flag.

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