Michael
Oct 2nd 2009, 05:33 PM
A crash course in American coarseness
How did we get here? It began not with our politicians but with our stand-up comics.
By Tim Rutten
September 23, 2009
These days, everyone seems to remember a time in the relatively recent past when civility wasn't in such short supply and when rudeness and boorishness of the Wilson variety wouldn't be tolerated. So the natural question is: How did we get here?
Actually, our recent descent into boorishness didn't begin on the political platform but on the stage -- not with our politicians but with our stand-up comics. Sometime in the late 1950s, the taste for comedy based on edgy political satire (think Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl) mutated into shtick based on insult (think Don Rickles and Jackie Mason). People, as it turned out, found it highly entertaining to watch other people being insulted.
It was, in economic terms, the commoditization of incivility.
It wasn't long before foundering AM radio found a savior in the proto-shock jock, Howard Stern, who turned rudeness and transgressive humor of every sort into a morning staple for millions of Americans. Incivility the commodity had found a broad new market, built on the animating insight that people found insults entertaining.
Editorial (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rutten23-2009sep23,0,3271232.column)
This pattern does follow chronologically. I'm not sure if rude comedians are the cause of rude politics, but it seems highly plausible.
One point that I'd like to raise here and often gets overlooked when looking at the rise of partisan nastiness in US politics. That is to say, the period of time that is supposed to be the 'golden age' of bipartisanship and civility corresponds with a time when the US Congress contained a very large block of white supremists. That's something to keep in mind the next time David Brooks waxes about the demise of bipartisanship and civility in politics.
I for one do not yearn for the olden days of fake civility masking brutality of policy.
How did we get here? It began not with our politicians but with our stand-up comics.
By Tim Rutten
September 23, 2009
These days, everyone seems to remember a time in the relatively recent past when civility wasn't in such short supply and when rudeness and boorishness of the Wilson variety wouldn't be tolerated. So the natural question is: How did we get here?
Actually, our recent descent into boorishness didn't begin on the political platform but on the stage -- not with our politicians but with our stand-up comics. Sometime in the late 1950s, the taste for comedy based on edgy political satire (think Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl) mutated into shtick based on insult (think Don Rickles and Jackie Mason). People, as it turned out, found it highly entertaining to watch other people being insulted.
It was, in economic terms, the commoditization of incivility.
It wasn't long before foundering AM radio found a savior in the proto-shock jock, Howard Stern, who turned rudeness and transgressive humor of every sort into a morning staple for millions of Americans. Incivility the commodity had found a broad new market, built on the animating insight that people found insults entertaining.
Editorial (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rutten23-2009sep23,0,3271232.column)
This pattern does follow chronologically. I'm not sure if rude comedians are the cause of rude politics, but it seems highly plausible.
One point that I'd like to raise here and often gets overlooked when looking at the rise of partisan nastiness in US politics. That is to say, the period of time that is supposed to be the 'golden age' of bipartisanship and civility corresponds with a time when the US Congress contained a very large block of white supremists. That's something to keep in mind the next time David Brooks waxes about the demise of bipartisanship and civility in politics.
I for one do not yearn for the olden days of fake civility masking brutality of policy.