Don't Make Me Laugh: People Are Funny in WALL-E and Tropic Thunder

摘要

The current difficulties of making challenging humor while respecting the legitimate sensibilities of stigmatized people are discussed. Two very different movie comedies include jokes about people. One is received with outrage on behalf of the group that is made the butt of the jokes, people who are "mentally challenged"; the other, about sedentary obese people, is not criticized. It is hard for humorists to know when they might transgress with serious consequences, but the use of taboo words, in any context, can lead to trouble.