1. The document discusses the Daniel Tosh incident where the comedian made a rape joke in response to being heckled by a audience member, which was widely criticized for lacking comedic value and instead serving only to hurt and bully the patron. 2. It explores the purpose of comedy and how different forms like satire aim to critique absurd social norms, rather than reinforce oppression. Effective jokes on sensitive topics attack problematic stances, not the groups themselves. 3. Guidelines are provided on how to thoughtfully approach offensive jokes, noting that humor at the expense of oppressed groups supports oppression, while jokes about oppressors can be intended as

1. Brittany Carrier

2. Objectives
 Discuss the purpose of comedy and its different types
 Learn how to approach offensive comedy
 Discuss effective jokes about sexual assault
 Clarify the difference between jokes about those
oppressed and those who are the oppressors

3. Daniel Tosh Incident
 Woman went to a comedy show at the Laugh Factory
 Tosh started his performance with general statements
about how funny rape is
 “Heckled” by audience member by her shouting out
“Actually, rape jokes are never funny!”
 Tosh “joked” about how funny it would be if she got
gang-raped in the audience

4. How Tosh Messed Up
 Lack of comedic value
 No element of irony, satire, wry social comedy, or even plain
slapstick
 Main function was to hurt the patron, not entertain the
audience
 Prevalence of rape
 Rape as a source of shame and humiliation
 Bullying

5. Discussion Questions
 What’s the purpose of comedy?
 Do different forms of comedy have different purposes?
 How should comedy approach sexual assault,
systematic oppression, etc.?

6. Points of Comedy
 Points out the absurdity of life and all that happens in
it, making it accessible to all people.
 There are many forms of comedy
 Satire
 Blue comedy
 Black comedy
 In order to address controversial topics, the comedian
must attacks a senseless, absurd, or oppressive status
quo, not reiterate it.

7. Hannah Gadsby
 Australian stand-up comic
 Winner of Raw Comedy competition in 2006
 Focuses on small town life, dysfunctional families, and
same-sex sexuality
 Successful joke about rape:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiwDN-bZtMQ

8. Why Do Offensive Jokes Matter?
 “Language, the institution, the apparatus of ritual,
value judgment and so on, does not belong to
everyone equally. It can be controlled by a small
elite” (463).
 Sexist jokes support a patriarchal culture.
 “Cultures where rape is a joke are cultures that
foster rape.” (464).
 Seth MacFarlane did not actually make an effective
comment or criticism with his performance

9. Tips on Approaching Offensive Jokes
 Analyze your relationship to the person
 Relationships are a major part of the equation when
predicting a good result.
 Don’t laugh
 Even if it’s awkward or hard not to because you want to
fit in.
 Use “I” statements.
 Use the realm of knowledge VAWPP has given us.
 Clarify that their knowledge/awareness of the joke
does NOT mean their joke loses its meaning.

11. Retro Sexism and Uber Ironic
Advertising
 Discusses ineffective “satire” reiterates oppressive
attitudes and actions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD0Faha2gow&fea
ture=youtu.be

12. No, It’s Not the Same

14. Reverse Oppression is Not an Issue
 When jokes are made about the oppressors, these are
known to be just jokes.
 Part of having privilege is having others recognize that
each person within that privileged group has their own
identity, personality, and qualities about them.
 Jokes about the oppressed reiterate negative
stereotypes and support systematic oppression
without addressing the issues of it.

15. How would you properly and
effectively respond to this?