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Seinfeld is the King's Fool - the most ancient form of comedy. Feudal kings would keep a fool in their court to mock those who came before the king - a subtle

Seinfeld is the King's Fool - the most ancient form of comedy. Feudal kings would keep a fool in their court to mock those who came before the king - a subtle form of power politics. Here is this insolent fool, who I will allow to mock you, with impunity. Now, laugh! If the Fool were to start mocking the King himself, well, that Fool would not be long for this world. In today's system, that's been altered - the Fool just doesn't get their contract renewed. There was a brief period where Fools were able to break free and mock all those about them (see George Carlin) but that was quickly shut down, and now the Fools we still see know what subjects not to tackle... with a few exceptions, I suppose. Independent media and alternative venues, etc.

soared 4y ago
Is this true? I’m not aware of any topics that major and minor comics don’t discuss today.
- photochemsyn 4y ago
  Try Ukraine... the military industrial complex... the financialization of the economy... global trade policy and the Rust Belt... I mean, you can be edgy about social issues, I guess, but not about who owns Netflix and what their agenda is. Here's someone on the Vietnam War for comparison... But it's hardly a 'current event' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1u8J9jyOk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1u8J9jyOk
  - carapace 4y ago
    Not to be crass or flip, but none of those things you listed are funny. It would take a superhuman comedic genius to make a successful set out of those topics. (edit to add: ...or John Oliver. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
  - throwaway_4ever 4y ago
    > who owns Netflix and what their agenda is https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/NFLX/holders?p=NFLX https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/NFLX/holders?p=NFLX Pensions that are underwater like Chicago? To make more money so their obligations aren't bankrupt?
racl101 4y ago
Correction: Carlin was no fool, he was a foole. At least that's what he listed under "occupation". At one point he was America's fastest rising young foole.

soared 4y ago

Is this true? I’m not aware of any topics that major and minor comics don’t discuss today.

photochemsyn 4y ago
Try Ukraine... the military industrial complex... the financialization of the economy... global trade policy and the Rust Belt... I mean, you can be edgy about social issues, I guess, but not about who owns Netflix and what their agenda is. Here's someone on the Vietnam War for comparison... But it's hardly a 'current event' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1u8J9jyOk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1u8J9jyOk
- carapace 4y ago
  Not to be crass or flip, but none of those things you listed are funny. It would take a superhuman comedic genius to make a successful set out of those topics. (edit to add: ...or John Oliver. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
- throwaway_4ever 4y ago
  > who owns Netflix and what their agenda is https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/NFLX/holders?p=NFLX https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/NFLX/holders?p=NFLX Pensions that are underwater like Chicago? To make more money so their obligations aren't bankrupt?

racl101 4y ago

Correction: Carlin was no fool, he was a foole. At least that's what he listed under "occupation". At one point he was America's fastest rising young foole.