Social Functions of Comedy
The comedy industry is significantly expanding. This is because many people are continuing to consume comedy during their free time. The broadening consumer base of comedy has caused many people to choose this field as their career path. Inspired by the success of the comedians, many children have embraced the idea that “I would like to be a comedian. “In the past, the careers considered lucrative include aviation, engineering, and medicine, just to mention but a few. Currently, comedy seems a lucrative career than all other careers. This is evidenced by the posh cars, houses, and luxurious lifestyles of the comedians. As comedy attracts audiences and comedians, it is crucial to consider its functions in society.
Comedy involves doing funny things that make people laugh. Such jokes are conveyed to people in film form or done live in auditoriums or theatres. Those that enter into the avenues pays a certain amount of money as entry fee. The collected money goes to the comedians and renting the space used for the performance. Comedians who attract a broad audience makes a lot of money from their performance. This shows that comedy is a source of income for those who have followed comedy as their career path (Olson 47). Seeing some testimonials of many comedians indicates that could have been in terrible situations now were in not for the evolution of the comedy industry. Many of them were not able to complete their college degrees due to fee problems, but they are earning just like people who hold a college degree.
Criminal activities in the society are carried out by the poor in the society. This is due to lack of employment- the source of income, making them look for other means to survive. Most of the people involved in issues such as robbery with violence are young people. The comedy industry is a significant employer of young people. This means that the expanding industry is significantly reducing rates of crime in society. Also, the taxes collected from the industry are enormous. With these taxes, the government can be able to achieve its developmental agendas. Anything done by the government goes to society as a whole, showing that the income from the comedy does support not only the comedians but also the entire country.
Comedy involves much laughing than any other thing. A comedian aims to make people laugh. An individual is considered auspicious in this industry if he makes people laugh at his/her jokes. Laughing is an aspect of our lives that we find difficult to live without doing it. Those whose professionals whose jobs are demanding may not have time to laugh at work. During their free time, they turn to comedy to enjoy themselves and laugh. According to such people, comedy is the best way to rejuvenate themselves after a hectic schedule. Research shows that when people laugh, they feel positive and optimistic. It relieves one from stress and situations that contribute to the negative feeling among individuals. Therefore, comedy has significantly reduced cases of mental illness in society.
Live comedy brings people from different racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds together. They all laugh and enjoy the show together, while here, nothing divides them. In some instances, people form friendships through comedy events. Furthermore, the performers in such events come from diverse cultural and religious beliefs. Hence, comedy promotes social integration and cohesion in society (Corner Corner, Kay, and Katy 34). It encourages the spirit of unity and togetherness among the members of society. With comedy, people start seeing each other equally cultural differences notwithstanding. The government that supports the comedy industry has realized its significance in society, and that which does not support is far from the reality of national unity. Therefore, leaders must promote the comedy industry as a source of national income and national unity.
Many members of society always want to speak their minds, but they do not find the opportunity to present their ideas. Those ideas might be the beginning of the process of development in society. Although leaders have the authority to suggest the areas the government needs to improve on for changes to be realized in the country, there are many citizens with mind-blowing ideas that might solve the nation’s challenges if implemented. However, their ideas live within themselves as there is no avenue to allow them to channel their views. Fortunately, the recent evolution of the comedy industry has open a platform where citizens can speak their minds. The goodness about comedy is that there are no limitations, such as academics, class, and status. So anyone can become a comedian.
Gender equality and social relationships are some of the issues that society has battled for many decades. However, the emergence of comedy has assisted leaders in dealing with such issues quickly. Comedians help the people to change their perception towards gender inequality by conveying their consequences artfully and in a humorous way. Such issues as sexuality can be the best address through comedy where the performers bring out the topic so that the audience will evaluate them based on their understanding and that of the comedian. Becker is an example of a comedian who has used comedy to address the sensitive issue for many years. All over the United States, she has traveled promoting her no-holds bars progressive comedy that seeks to inform the society how to deal with dynamic social problems.
Polished comedians are an asset in society. They use their onstage craft to allow the audience to learn about the society around them. In today’s world, people live independently. That is, it is difficult to find people gathered together to be taught about values and norms that they should abide by in the society (Klein 916). In the past, it was easy to have leaders talk to the people about the issues they face because cultural ties were still strong. The evolution of the comedy industry has served to replace the cultural meetings that were previously there. As comedy events bring many people together in a commonplace, it is possible to enlighten them on various issues affecting them and deal with them. Also, it offers an opportunity to be educated concerning the society as a whole.
There are topics that people find it difficult to talk about in public. Comedy is the best tool to use to discuss such issues so that the audience can understand them. Topics such as family planning are not generally addressed in public space, and many are ignorant about going to the hospital to seek a physician’s assistance. Talented comedians comically address such issues, and in a way, the audience can learn about them. As many people turn to humor as a means to pass the time, an opportunity avails itself to enlighten the entire population on the social ills that have found shelter. The goodness about comic stuff is that they can also be produced as movies that people can watch in their homes.
Comedy provides an excellent way to reflect the culture from which it comes from. There is no better way to revive the cultural values by comically presenting them. Comedians use much of storytelling in their attempt to create humor. With this, they can help their audience to recall the cultural values that were there before, thus eliminating them on how to carry themselves in society. Emerging issues such as lesbianism and homosexuality can be best addressed in comedy. The comedians use their onstage craft to discourage them by explaining to their audience the consequences of such acts. Parents sometimes find it difficult to discuss such topics with their children. Thanks to comedy because it provides an avenue in which they can be handled comfortably.
There is a growing market for humor in society as people try to find a better way to spend their leisure time. This presents an opportunity to exploit this widening market to the benefit of society as a whole. It is worth noting that hardworking citizens build the economy of the country. However, in the same society, some lazy people contribute little effort into driving upcountry’s economy. Comedians can use their work to criticize this particular trait in society and encourage hard work. Comedians are highly held people in society. Companies seek them to advertise their products on Televisions. Therefore, they have a voice in society. With their art and talent, they can address many topics that have long disturbed society.
Comedy offers an effective way to criticize some leaders who do not carry out their duties as expected by the elected people. Most of their actions cannot be covered in newspapers, magazines, and on TV. Comics is an arena that many people concentrate on them and the comedians that discuss good leaders and those that are not (Achter 290). Meaning in the next election, they will make an informed decision on the person that is capable of bringing change to society. Additionally, topics such as race and racism can be addressed well in the comedy better than through campaigns and various media. Comedy helps people to know about racism and the consequences of racial differences forcing them to change their perceptions toward racism.
The comedy industry’s revolution turned out to be a significant societal transformation based on its considerable impact. For many years, society has experienced detrimental consequences, and their solutions have been hard to come back due to the lack of arena to address them. The industry’s emergence confirmed the say “there is a light at the end of the tunnel.” The goodness about comedy is the fact that it attracts many people who come together and hear the funny talks of the comedians as they laugh together, the perceptions about racial, cultural, religious, and gender inequality changes. As comedy is more about laughter, it has reduced several cases of mental health problems as laughter allows an individual to think positively and to be optimistic. Therefore, comedy plays a significant role in society.
Works Cited
Olson, S. Douglas. “Comedy, politics, and society.” Brill’s Companion to the Study of Greek Comedy. Brill, 2010. 35-69.
Corner, John, Kay Richardson, and Katy Parry. “Comedy, the civic subject, and generic mediation.” Television & New Media 14.1 (2013): 31-45.
Achter, Paul. “Comedy in unfunny times: News parody and carnival after 9/11.” Critical Studies in Media Communication 25.3 (2018): 274-303.
Klein, Bethany. “Entertaining ideas: Social issues in entertainment television.” Media, Culture & Society 33.6 (2011): 905-921.