Nihilistic comedy: good or bad?

Comedians have always been controversial, some far more than others. Comedians such as Frankie Boyle, George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Jerry Sadowitz, Sarah Silverman and so many more are known for their cynical, depressing outlook on the world. Often by the media this is highly criticised as unacceptable comedy: jokes about rape, abortions, racism, sexism, war. However these comedians are just the brave ones; the people who have enough confidence to say what most others think. Who else would be able to get up on stage and tell the politicians what everyone really thinks? I certainly wouldn’t.

In 2001, Chris Morris got a lot of backlash from an episode of Brass Eye, a satirical news show program, which focussed on the hysteria the media creates around subjects. This particular episode was about paedophilia and was met with over 2000 complaints and even politicians speaking out against it, who later admitted they hadn’t even watched the show. Surely this proves that the media will now do anything to denounce comedians and satire, without even listening to their point. The media responded hysterically to the notion Brass Eye gave, that the media responds hysterically to controversial subjects, thus proving Chris Morris exactly right. It merely highlighted further the hysteria and hypocrisy the media carries towards controversy.

In King Lear, the Jester is the only one who can tell the King his faults, everything that’s going wrong in his kingdom, the truth, without fear of persecution. Perhaps nihilistic comedians are the Jester of today; the people who highlight the faults, criticise the people in charge, religion, science and the world in general. In true White Chicks fashion, ‘You were thinking it!...But you said it!’ Having the belief and confidence in yourself to say to hundreds of people, sometimes thousands, what no one else has the guts to say has to be one of the most demanding careers around; something we really don’t give enough credit for. These comedians hold up a mirror to the sick society they see before them and show it to the world. We should be thankful for that. We could call nihilistic comedy Dorian Gray’s portrait of our time, showing the world the terrible horror of within, showing what the world is really like to those in charge, to those who seem not to notice.

These comedians are the real voice of the people, not David Cameron or any other politician, musician, or author nowadays. Comedians that tell it how it really is, they put forward most people’s views. They show that being ‘controversial’ isn’t perhaps as controversial as it seems: others agree with you, they just don’t feel the confidence to express it. They show others that they are not alone, and they shouldn’t be afraid to speak up, while adding humour into the situation; and let’s be honest, everyone loves a laugh. No one can go through life without laughing and when given a set in front of you that combines everything you’ve thought to yourself and more said out loud, while encompassing humour, I don’t think it should ever be looked down upon and tried to be hushed up. It should be shouted out loud. Shown on TV before midnight. Given some form of appreciation, because at the moment, it really doesn’t get the credit it deserves. In the current climate, where free expression is largely denied to the voiceless, disregarded by the powerful, isn’t it right that someone is saying what many of us are thinking inside?