I rarely agree with Crouch, but he's right on this one. Once humor and wit were displaced by infantile spewings of obscenities and insults, this was bound to happen. When I look at many early comedies, prior to the Lenny Bruce generation, I marvel at how innocent they were - and how uproariously funny. All a performer had to do was raise a knowing eyebrow to get his message across, or do a simple double entendre that could get the audience laughing so hard they cried. But that took timing, smarts and theatrical personality.
"prior to the Lenny Bruce generation"
The Lenny Bruce generation? Lenny would have been 81 this year (just one year older than Marilyn Monroe). Oy vay.....
I agree. On the one hand we are encouraged to be cruder and more offensive all the time because that "pushes the envelope" and somehow constant envelope pushing is a good thing (Is there an "envelope" anywhere that has not been "pushed" to the breaking point?). On the other hand, we are supposed to be extremely sensitive and it is considered the hightes virtue to be constantly offended at everyone and everything. Imagined slights become real and real insults become thought crimes, only it is also a thought crime to not be offending or offended. This chaos accomplishes two things:
1. A general breakdown in civilized norms creates opportunities for degenerates, demagogues and criminals.
2. Someone has to enforce the double-standards and this is an opportunity for the high priests of political correctness to dictate how people will be "offended" or not. It is like something out of "1984."
Yep, I long for those days... Johnny Carson was one of those who never had to 'say' the words.. just a look.. and it was always very funny.