I’ve nowhere near exhausted the topic of EDI and Humour. But I’ll continue to pursue this line of research since humour is a linchpin concept not only to the offence/harm issues, but also to diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Here is my promised non-annotated Policing Humour series bibliography available for download:

Policing HumourDownload

Posts in the weeks to come will include topics such as Activist Humour, Cancel Culture, the Alt-Right Bogeyman, and Comedian Behavioural Agreements. And I will continue to build data bases under categories such as controversies, courses, and events.

Humour as Criticism

Is University Theatre (Becoming?) a Series of Morality Plays (Didactic)?

Canadian University Examples of Didactic EDI-Related Commitments and Performances

Some Canadian Humour Controversies

STAND-UP AND CANADIAN CAMPUSES

HUMOUR AS CRITICISM

The Affinities Between Philosophy and Stand-up Comedy

At the outset of Part 2 of 3, this series, I mentioned that I would include the following excerpt from the SEP entry on Humour:

"If philosophers wanted to undo the traditional prejudices against humor, they might consider the affinities between one contemporary genre of comedy—standup comedy—and philosophy itself. There are at least seven. (Morreall 2009, ch. 7). First, standup comedy and philosophy are conversational: like the dialogue format that started with Plato, standup routines are interactive. Second, both reflect on familiar experiences, especially puzzling ones. We wake from a vivid dream, for example, not sure what has happened and what is happening. Third, like philosophers, standup comics often approach puzzling experiences with questions. “If I thought that dream was real, how do I know that I’m not dreaming right now?” The most basic starting point in both philosophy and standup comedy is “X—what’s up with that?” Fourth, as they think about familiar experiences, both philosophers and comics step back emotionally from them. Henri Bergson (1900 [1911]) spoke of the “momentary anesthesia of the heart” in laughter. Emotional disengagement long ago became a meaning of “philosophical”—“rational, sensibly composed, calm, as in a difficult situation.” Fifth, philosophers and standup comics think critically. They ask whether familiar ideas make sense, and they refuse to defer to authority and tradition. It was for his critical thinking that Socrates was executed. So were cabaret comics in Germany who mocked the Third Reich. Sixth, in thinking critically, philosophers and standup comics pay careful attention to language. Attacking sloppy and illogical uses of words is standard in both, and so is finding exactly the right words to express an idea. Seventh, the pleasure of standup comedy is often like the pleasure of doing philosophy. In both we relish new ways of looking at things and delight in surprising thoughts. Cleverness is prized. William James (1911 [1979], 11) said that philosophy “sees the familiar as if it were strange, and the strange as if it were familiar.” The same is true of standup comedy. Simon Critchley has written that both ask us to “look at things as if you had just landed from another planet” (2002, 1)."

From the SEP, Morreall, excerpt above:

"Fifth, philosophers and standup comics think critically. They ask whether familiar ideas make sense, and they refuse to defer to authority and tradition. It was for his critical thinking that Socrates was executed. So were cabaret comics in Germany who mocked the Third Reich."

Compare this sub-excerpt with John Cleese’s claim that “all humor is critical”: 

“[Cleese] mentioned working with a well-known psychiatrist in London, Robin Skynner, with whom he he [sic] wrote two books, and something Skynner had told him. “He said, ‘If people can’t control their own emotions, then they have to start trying to control other people’s behavior.’ And when you’re around super-sensitive people, you cannot relax and be spontaneous because you have no idea what’s going to upset them next. ..."
"'And that’s why I’ve been warned recently don’t go to most university campuses because the political correctness has been taken from being a good idea, which is let’s not be mean in particular to people who are not able to look after themselves very well — that’s a good idea — to the point where any kind of criticism of any individual or group could be labeled cruel.’

...'And the whole point about humor, the whole point about comedy, and believe you me I thought about this, is that all comedy is critical. 

… All humor is critical. If you start to say, ‘We mustn’t; we mustn’t criticize or offend them,’ then humor is gone. With humor goes a sense of proportion. And then as far as I’m concerned, you’re living in ‘1984.’”

David Morgan: “Religion and Humor in the Time of Pandemic”

Bibliographer’s note: The following statement from Morgan’s article is likely the most important and pertinent to EDI-related phenomena in this whole post: 

"[A]ny human activity that takes itself seriously is not only liable to riposte and skewering—it needs the acerbic eye of comedy to keep it honest."

Also, for some perspective, Morgan writes:


"On the evidence of what Lenny Bruce and Mel Brooks proclaim, humor is mercifully entangled with disaster. Each comedian conveys the sentiment in broadly existential terms, but we may put the matter in equally apt political form: humor is a life line in dark, oppressive times because it deftly re-negotiates power relations. By speaking truth to power, by deriding those in power, by exposing their hypocrisy, by caricaturing their vanity, by spoofing sanctimoniousness or self-righteousness, different kinds of humor allow those who laugh an alternative to mere impotence. Everything may be going to hell in a handbasket, but at least we can step momentarily outside of the chaos by laughing about it."

What are Jesters?

Bibliographer’s notes: Court Jesters, or Fools, are commonly associated with courts of the medieval ages. There they served kings and noblemen as general entertainers. But they also often had the precarious privilege of speaking truth to power, giving their employers a reality check through the vehicle of mocking jest.

The medieval Court Jester, however, is just one historically short-lived manifestation of the Fool. See the following article for an interesting overview of the ubiquitous presence of the Fool over time. Most notably in ancient China.

Clearly Fools play important functions in and for human groups. But this bibliographer adds the caveat that not everyone can play the Fool.

(*I’d like to compare the role of the Fool with the former Office of the Devil’s Advocate , aka Protector of the Faith, in the Catholic faith, as well as the reasons for the changes (1983) made to this office, and the consequences thereof. I might be wrong, but I suspect there is an epistemic analogy to be made between the Fool, the Devil’s Advocate, and the Scholar.)

Beatrice Otto: Fools Are Everywhere: Court Jesters Around the World

Excerpts from: Chapter 1: Facets of the Fool and Chapter 7: Stultorum Plena Sunt Omnia, or Fools Are Everywhere

"A description of Rabelais's Panurge encompasses many of the jester's characteristics: 'Irreverent, libertine, self-indulgent, witty, clever, roguish, he is the fool as court jester, the fool as companion, the fool as goad to the wise and challenge to the virtuous, the fool as critic of the world.'" 

"The court jester is a universal phenomenon. He crops up in every court worth its salt in medieval and Renaissance Europe, in China, India, Japan, Russia, America and Africa."

Perhaps the most recent examples of the court jester are among the ritual clowns of African and American tribes whose mocking, corrective, and unbridled topsy-turvy antics have been documented by twentieth-century anthropologists... there are some tribes that have had permanently appointed jesters, such as the African Wolof jesters and the Sioux "contrary," or heyhoka,...

Ted Cohen: Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters

Bibliographer’s note: I’ve only read the summary and endorsement blurbs on this page, but thought Cohen’s book worth noting for my own research. And I include it here just in case it interests others. 

"Jokes, in short, are complicated transactions in which communities are forged, intimacy is offered, and otherwise offensive stereotypes and cliches lose their sting—at least sometimes."
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. Jokes Are Conditional
3. When Jokes Are Asymmetrical
4. Problems and Occasions for Joke-making
5. Jewish Jokes and the Acceptance of Absurdity
6. Taste, Morality, and the Propriety of Joking
Appendix
Index of Jokes

ACADEMIC JESTERS

ANONYMOUS ACADEMIC INSIDE-HUMOUR AS CRITICISM OF EDI-RELATED PHENOMENA

One Canadian University Fleetingly Took Up a Satirical Academic Webzine Aimed at Wokeness and EDI-Related Bureaucracy:

McGill University

Bibliographer’s note: This site no longer exists. My most recent attempted access to this website was on August 12, 2023. I did get to listen to The Academic Equity Song when I accessed the site Jan. 20, 2023. This song was performed in the manner of a Vaudevillian Ditty. To my recollection, there was at least one other article posted.

  • The Babbling Martlet: Fake News and Opinion, McGill University, November 19-27, 2022, https://babblingmartlet.com, first accessed January 20, 2023, attempted access August 12, 2023 

The Babbling Martlet was Born in the USA, at MIT

Welcome McGill

The martlet is a mythical bird that never lands. The inability of the martlet to land is said by some commentators to symbolize the constant quest for knowledge, learning, and adventure. Seeing as the academic system completely abandoned its quest for knowledge and learning, the only thing that’s left for the martlets to do is don an eye-patch and embark on an adventure.
Welcome aboard, Martlets! May our movement grow and our constant babbles and flickers drown out the murky wave of academic DEI!

The Babbling Beaver: Fake News You Can Trust From Transgressive Nerds at MIT

The Babbling Beaver irregularly publishes satirical samizdat anonymously contributed by loyal alumni, faculty, staff, and students of MIT who are distressed by the Wokeness takeover of our beloved ‘Tute. Strongly believing that no rigidly intolerant ideology merits exemption from scrutiny and debate, the Beaver is committed to speaking parody to power. We hope our anti-authoritarian humor emboldens those afraid to speak their minds, reviving the rebellious hacker spirit that made our university unique.  Tremble not in these troubled Twitter times, for as Mark Twain once said, “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” 

So, seize the opportunity to enjoy a mischievous chuckle, sign up to receive our biting missives by email, and if the muse moves you consider contributing some over-the-top fake stories of your own. Help shine the spotlight of mockery on the people and practices inflicting Woke extremism on the world’s premier STEM institution. Submissions chosen by our scrupulously fair and balanced editors applying community standards so transparent you can’t see them will only be accepted under assumed names, as even many of our brilliant tenured professors are afraid to swim against the cultural riptide. The Babbling Beaver is published under a Creative Commons License. We encourage refuseniks at other universities to plagiarize our issues, steal our jokes, and publish satirical samizdat of their own. Don’t ask anyone for permission, just go ahead and put an eye patch on your college mascot, hoist the Jolly Roger of free speech absolutism, and launch your own satire webzine. Join the revolution to take back our minds and liberate our campuses, with an ironic nod to Saul Alinsky’s Rule #5 and a joyous, bellowing … Aargh!

Cornell University and UMass Boston are also Babbling hosts.

The Babbling Bear of Cornell

The Babbling Bear irregularly publishes satirical samizdat anonymously contributed by loyal Cornell alumni, faculty, staff, and students who are distressed by its takeover by Systemic Totalitarianism imbedded in the New DEI Bureaucracy that is based on the postmodern philosophy that there is no objective truth.

As Hanna Arendt wrote in The Origins of Totalitarianism, “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e., the standards of thought) no longer exists.”

Strongly believing that no rigidly intolerant ideology merits exemption from scrutiny and debate, the Babbling Bear is committed to speaking parody to power. We hope our anti-authoritarian humor emboldens those afraid to speak their minds, reviving the rugged individualism that made our university unique.
As Saul Ailinsky wrote in Rules for Radicals, “Humor is essential, for through humor much is accepted that would have been rejected if presented seriously. This is a sad and lonely generation. It laughs too little, and this, too, is tragic.”

And lastly, Sigmund Freud noted that “the man who first flung a word of abuse at his enemy instead of a spear was the founder of civilization.”

So, seize the opportunity to enjoy a mischievous chuckle, sign up to receive our biting missives by email, and if the muse moves you consider contributing some over-the-top fake stories of your own. Help shine the spotlight on the people and practices inflicting Systemic Totalitarianism on the first American Ivy League University. Submissions chosen by our scrupulously fair and balanced editors applying community standards so transparent you can’t see them will only be accepted under assumed names, as even many of our brilliant tenured professors are afraid to swim against the cultural riptide.

The Babbling Bear is published under a Creative Commons License. We encourage refuseniks at other universities to plagiarize our issues, steal our jokes, and publish satirical samizdat of their own. Don’t ask anyone for permission, just go ahead and put an eye patch on your college mascot, hoist the Jolly Roger of free speech absolutism, and launch your own satire webzine. Join the revolution to take back our minds and liberate our campuses, with an ironic nod to Saul Alinsky’s Rule #5 and a joyous, bellowing … Aargh!

The Flickering Beacon of UMass Boston

"Enter at your own risk. Not recommended for the elderly, the pregnant, and people with severe wokeness.

We, a group of brave men (or women!) at UMass Boston, following the steps of our dearest brothers (or sisters!), the Babbling Beavers at the MIT, present to you the Flickering Beacon. Formerly known as Boston's only public research university, our dear institution abandoned its mission and its role as an actual, you know, University, a place where knowledge is created and rigorous academic debate is held, fueled by a diversity of viewpoints, and is now quickly being captured by the dark forces of performative Wokeness.

Tired of standing on the sidelines and watching with horror as our beloved workplace becomes a travesty where excellence and merit are thrown away in favor of "expansive notions of excellence" and where freedom of expression is being discarded in favor of groupthink, we decided to do the courageous thing and talk about it, completely anonymously of course (we may be brave but we're not stupid!)...In case you still don’t get it - this is a satirical site.

Some rules: 6.Very few topics are off limits, but please avoid overly vulgar language and/or malice or bigotry. We are here for good fun."

Is University Theatre (Becoming?) a Series of Morality Plays (Didactic)?

What is a Morality Play?

In a nutshell, a morality play, is

"an allegorical drama popular in Europe especially during the 15th and 16th centuries, in which the characters personify moral qualities (such as charity or vice) or abstractions (as death or youth) and in which moral lessons are taught."
"The action of the morality play centres on a hero, such as Mankind, whose inherent weaknesses are assaulted by such personified diabolic forces as the Seven Deadly Sins but who may choose redemption and enlist the aid of such figures as the Four Daughters of God (Mercy, Justice, Temperance, and Truth)."

The most renowned of this era of morality plays is probably Everyman,

Knowledge. [to Everyman] Now we go together lovingly, 
To Confession that cleansing river... 

Everyman. O glorious fountain that all uncleanness doth clarify, 
Wash from the spots of vices unclean, 
That on me no sin may be seen; 
I come with Knowledge for my redemption,...
  • Anonymous. Everyman and Other Miracle & Morality Plays, Dover Thrift Editions, Dover Publications, Inc: New York, 1995 (p 50)

Bibliographer’s notes: In my ear EDI rhetoric that goes something like, cf the Everyman quote above: with knowledge, I confess my privilege. Some EDI rhetoric has the ring of a morality play, and asks for audience participation in the such things as mandatory training (compare with Sunday school), commitment statements, and diversity statements.

Add example here

As a child of the late-60’s/early-70’s, I was subject to modernised versions of the morality play. Including the charming little claymation series called Davey and Goliath. You can view this Lutheran Church sponsored TV series on You Tube. 

"On Sunday mornings, when Mom and Dad were still asleep and the TV picked up only three stations, you could always watch Davey & Goliath...The series created for the Lutheran Church aired around the world from 1960 to 1975, offering young viewers a primer in ethical behavior, along with a pretty obvious dose of religion. But a lot of the lessons are just road maps to being nice."

At the same time, I was subject to the Up With People singers. I’ll be covering this social phenomenon in an upcoming post, along with its roots in the Moral Re-Armament movement. Up With People — which shares with EDI goals such as diversity, inclusion, and impact — originated with the political RIGHT to counter the hippy counter-culture. Again, I’ll leave you to search You Tube. If I embed a video here, it’ll take up too much space in an already dense entry.

Up With People is still around:

Bibliographer’s note: To be clear. In my comparison of EDI-related phenomena with morality plays, I am not saying one is the other and vice versa. I’m pointing out some relevant features of the two, which proponents of EDI-related phenomena would do well to pay attention to. Why? Because some of the pushback EDI proponents complain about is a direct response to the banal and infantalising training that staff, faculty, and students are mandated to take. Such as the Civility & Respect video embedded in the following post:

Deleterious Effects of Cancel Culture on Humour

Bibliographer’s Note: Next is an article by Craig Harper. This article sets the stage for my worries — specifically in the university setting — about Morality Plays (in this case, at this time, EDI-related phenomena) that are often mandated protection (e.g. policies) from the Jester. And common justifications for these mandates, e.g. microaggressions and unconscious bias, are weak, if not utterly unwarranted.

I’m not arguing that microaggressions and unconscious biases ought to be taken off the table, but rather I worry that the claims made by EDI-related agents about these kinds of psychological phenomena are much too strong. And as each are core concepts of the justifications for the implementation and execution of EDI-related phenomena, they are all the more jealously guarded by EDI-related proponents and allies. Hence to express what I’ve just expressed is, for some, morally and intellectually, unthinkable. Which is a problem if one is a philosopher.

Craig Harper: “Cancel Culture Will Kill Stand-Up Comedy”

Bibliographer’s note: Harper endorses the benign violation theory of humour. The gist of this theory is that a joke is funny, or funnier, if it violates a social norm, but does so in a situation where participants understand and consent to this violation. Humour works when it’s in the sweet spot of being a little unsafe, a little edgy. This bibliographer thinks of a humour Goldilocks zone, the violation works best when it’s not too much and not too little. 

KEY POINTS

- Psychologists are coming to grips with what makes something funny.

- Humor principally relies on the presence of a benign violation.

- Emergent movements for moral righteousness risk eliminating a crucial part of the puzzle of comedy.

Harper notes that, 

The reality of cancel culture is much-debated. High-profile examples of J.K. Rowling being canceled for her views on sex and gender jeopardize the legitimacy of the cancel culture notion (Rowling has published multiple books since the furore over her views first erupted). However, there have been some notable cases where cancel culture appears to have played out in the expected way, and where people have lost their jobs for expressing views that are unpopular, even when evidence-based.

In more contemporary examples, we have seen protests and (unsuccessful) demands for removing comedy specials from the likes of Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Carr, and Ricky Gervais in response to controversial sections of their most recent Netflix shows. This is interesting from a psychological perspective, and invites us to ask what makes something funny in the first place.

Harper notes Dad jokes are on the too-little side, eliciting groans from some but are thought utterly boring by others. And then you get the other extreme where Harper notes a source of potential offence,

"a joke that represents a violation (endorsing a racist or sexist stereotype or other morally reprehensible attitude), without evidence of this being benign, might be perceived as being offensive, rather than funny."

In terms of cancel culture, Harper explains, ” An overperception of the violation, or an underperception of the benign nature of jokes, may be enough to bring about an emotional state that encourages a cancellation attempt.” Harper explains this overperception and underperception can be correlated with the way people of different ideologies assess risk. (See Harper’s paper on Ideology and the Judgment of Jokes) I’ll paraphrase him here: The current political polarisation along with the “preponderance of political liberals in the arts” seems a perfect recipe for the moral outrage that can lead to cancellation, or cancellation attempts.

Bibliographer’s notes: I share Harpers worry that, “This [behaviour] is something to keep an eye on over the coming years to establish whether social commentary in the form of comedy becomes sanitized, and the trend of activist comedy continues unabated.”

My worry is that this sanitization may undermine the vital role of our Jesters. Because, as Morgan says, 

"[A]ny human activity that takes itself seriously is not only liable to riposte and skewering—it needs the acerbic eye of comedy to keep it honest."

Canadian University Examples of

DIDACTIC EDI-RELATED COMMITMENTS AND PERFORMANCES

Concordia University

Anti-oppression statement, Department of Theatre

Bibliographer’s note: Do the words “actively eliminate” (see excerpt below, taken from the screen shot that follows it) preclude theatre employed as counter-criticism? If I were to write a play, let’s say a monologue, satirising Concordia’s Anti-oppression statement below, would I be invited to tour Canadian Universities? Perform the play for the public from a Concordia Theatre? If I were a drama student at Concordia who improvised a skit about Anti-Oppressive-Oppression? 

“We are committed as a Department to actively eliminate forms of marginalization, cultural insensitivity, and oppression, especially those which we perpetuate into our theatre practices.”

Screen shot taken July 15, 2023:

End screen shot

University of British Columbia

Statement on Anti-racism and a Call to Action, Department of Theatre and Film

"The Department of Theatre and Film acknowledges that we have been participants in the oppressive structures that have allowed this state of injustice to remain the status quo. This is a wake-up call, one we promise to listen to, to learn from, and to act on." 
..."The UBC Department of Theatre and Film stands in support of Black, Indigenous and people of colour, including students, professional artists, and scholars. We also support worldwide movements against police brutality, colonial legacy, systemic racism, and economic inequality." 
..."We’ll identify places where these programs can provide genuine intersectional inclusivity."

University of Guelph

Anti-Racism Statement & Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Decolonization, School of English and Theatre Studies

"The School of English and Theatre Studies stands in Solidarity with Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQA+, immigrant, differently abled, non-neurotypical, religious minority, and the range of intersectional identities, other marginalized communities and uniquely embodied folxs with whom we work."
... "Canada was built upon racism, white supremacy, and colonization. Failing to acknowledge these histories is complicit behaviour that reinforces willful ignorance of fundamental realities of Canadian society making it impossible to meaningfully address systemic issues. This state of affairs cannot continue."
..."We commit ourselves and our school to the practices of anti-racism, to confronting racist ideologies both within ourselves and our community. We refuse to perpetuate expressions of hate and xenophobia."
..."We commit to centering equity and inclusion in our research, teaching, and community engagement. These efforts serve our mission as educators and work toward social justice."
..."All of us have a responsibility to engage with such work thoughtfully and without guilt and shame, as these emotions place the responsibility back on BIPOC people to make white folx feel better."
..."We commit our attention and dedication to catalyzing a socially-just learning community and environment rooted in anti-racist policies and practices."
  • Anti-Racism Statement & Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Decolonization, School of English and Theatre Studies, College of Arts, University of Guelph, https://www.uoguelph.ca/arts/sets/edid, accessed August 12, 2023

University of Toronto Mississauga

A conversation catalyst’: Play exploring gender, diversity and unconscious bias in STEM

“Humour” is promised as one of the play’s virtues: 

"'Truth Values: One Girl’s Romp Through M.I.T’s Male Math Maze' – a critically-acclaimed, award-winning play that brings more than 30 characters to life – tells the true story of De Cari’s experiences as a PhD student at MIT in 1989, and the challenges she faced as a woman in the male-dominated world of mathematics. In the 80-minute solo show, De Cari touches the topics of gender, diversity and unconscious bias in STEM with humour, insight and compassion."

Shubhangi Saraf, one of the show’s organisers, explains one of the reasons for why she suggested bringing Truth Values to U of T:

"I also happened to be on the math department’s equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) committee. We were brainstorming about what we could do to educate and bring awareness to the math community about the issues women and other minorities face in the department. I brought up the possibility of bringing the Truth Values play to U of T and the rest of the EDI members were super enthusiastic about it and extremely supportive of making it happen."





Another organiser, Faith Ellen, explains, 





"De Cari often has talkback sessions after her performances, and it is a wonderful thing. Because the issues of gender equity and unconscious bias in STEM are so central to the play, it becomes a conversation catalyst...The play portrays examples of ‘microaggressions’ and I think it’s really important to be aware of the effect they can have on people. I hope this piece of theatre will allow audiences to really experience it from De Cari’s point of view and understand why these affected her so much...We also hope the play will create better awareness about the kinds of biases some members of their communities face and encourage them to create a more supportive and inclusive atmosphere within their circles."









Bibliographer’s notes: 





I am curious about whether De Cari’s talk-back sessions are modelled on the Theatre of the Oppressed format:





"In the Theatre of the Oppressed, the audience becomes active, such that as "spect-actors" they explore, show, analyse and transform the reality in which they are living."





“Theatre of the Oppressed,” Wikipedia,  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_the_Oppressed, accessed August 13, 2023. 





“A Theatre of the Oppressed Glossary,” Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed,  http://tophiladelphia.blogspot.com/2011/12/theatre-of-oppressed-glossary.html, accessed August 12, 2023





Bibliographer’s note:  I have not found any published negative criticisms of Truth Values. If anyone else can, please leave a link in the comment section. 





A video embedded in the following article promotes the play with positive reviews: 





Johnston, Sonja. “Upcoming play explores gender, diversity and unconscious bias in STEM,” University of Toronto, Faculty of Art & Science, September 1, 2022, https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/upcoming-play-explores-gender-diversity-and-unconscious-bias-stem, accessed August 8, 2023





Bibliographer’s note: I wonder the reaction if a play was written as a satire in response to Truth Values, such as South Park’s “The World Wide Privacy Tour,” lampooning Harry and Megan, and in which Harry’s memoir Spare was renamed Waaagh!” Saha, Joy. “‘South Park’ versions of Harry and Meghan are roasted for oxymoronic ‘Worldwide Privacy Tour’,” Salon, February 16, 2023, https://www.salon.com/2023/02/16/south-park-harry-meghan/, accessed August 8, 2023










Carleton University





Carleton University. “Theatre of the Oppressed,” Department of Sociology and Anthropology, November 30, 2019, https://carleton.ca/socanth/event/theatre-of-the-oppressed/, accessed August 14, 2023





Carleton University, in collaboration with the Glebe Collegiate Institute, presents Theatre of the Oppressed: The stereotypical notions of gender, race, and sexuality among young Canadians. 

"As a way to express student learning, and build confidence in young people, both Carleton and Glebe students have put together two plays, which are in line with “The Theatre of the Oppressed” model, by creator Augusto Boal. These two sets of plays will highlight discrimination and social oppression young people face in a Canadian social climate."





    

  • The advertisment for these two plays includes a Trigger Warning :
    • 






Trigger Warning 
This play contains coarse language and mature subject matter. It may not be suitable for those 13 years or younger. Please be advised that some of the content may potentially be offensive, challenging and/or upsetting.








    

  • Bibliographer’s Note: The theme of one of the two plays is: “1. “I am not my hair”
    This play depicts the story of a young Black girl who faces racially charged bullying at her school.”

      

    • The rules of play are: “At certain points during the plays, audience members will be encouraged, positively, to replace one of the existing characters within the plays in the hopes of creating a learning experience, and a positive outcome. The only characters who are not allowed to be replaced are the oppressed character and the character who is identified as the oppressor.”

        

      • I wonder if another play might be introduced where the oppressed is a redhead? How do oppressor and oppressed not just translate to bully and bullied? CBC News, Windsor. “Grade 9 victim of ‘Kick a Ginger Day’,” September 30, 2011, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/grade-9-victim-of-kick-a-ginger-day-1.1060049, accessed August 14, 2023
        • 




      • If the Mom of the bullied redhead were to attend and speak at the “I am not my hair” play, how would theatre-goers respond to a reiteration of her news comment: “‘If it was kick a black kid day or kick a gay kid day, those kids would have been suspended from school immediately,’ Samantha Russell said. “The school touts that they have a zero policy for violence yet a suspension from a football game does not seem like a zero tolerance policy.’?

          

        • I’ll be following up with a post on EDI and hair issues in the near future. The title: Hair-er-archies
          • 

        

        • 

      

      • 

    

    • 





















SOME CANADIAN HUMOUR CONTROVERSIES










Is Comedy Recognised as a Distinct Artform in Canada?





Azeez, Musthafa. “For the Canadian comedy scene, the lack of institutional support is no laughing matter,” The Globe and Mail, May 22, 2021, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-for-the-canadian-comedy-scene-the-lack-of-institutional-support-is-no/, accessed August 12, 2023





In 2017, Battaglini formed the Canadian Association of Stand-up Comedians (CASC) in an attempt to get comedy recognized as a distinct artform. Such a designation would allow hundreds of stand-up, improv and sketch comedians to receive grants to support their artistic endeavours.

Almost four years later, they’re still fighting for recognition.










Concordia University Professor, Gad Saad





2023





Faye, “A Concordia University professor, Gad Saad, tackles the Quebec accent,” dayFREURO, August 2, 2023, https://euro.dayfr.com/local/603576.html, accessed August 14, 2023





A Concordia University professor and public figure followed by nearly 700,000 Twitter followers said during his appearance on one of the most listened to podcasts in the world [Joe Rogan], that 'Quebec French is an affront to human dignity'.





Yakabuski, Konrad.“Why The Québécois accent is a Joy to Behold,” August 11, 2023, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-why-the-quebecois-accent-is-a-joy-to-behold/, accessed August 12, 2023














McGill Alumni, Sugar Sammy





2015





Paquin, Mali Ilse. “Sugar Sammy: the Canadian getting death threats for his ‘Frenglish’ comedy,” February 26, 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/feb/26/sugar-sammy-canada-comedian-bilingualism-death-threats, accessed August 14, 2023






"The cause of this outrage is not completely lost on Sammy: his political stance breaks a taboo. “I’m the first person in the local show business industry that proudly claims to be a federalist”, he says. 'I think a healthy society is pluralistic, it tolerates different opinions.'"





ArticNet 2016





2016





CBC News, North. “‘Sexist’ banquet joke riles researchers at Arctic science conference in Winnipeg,” December 9, 2016, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/arcticnet-sexist-comments-winnipeg-gala-1.3889834, accessed August 14, 2023





    

  • “800 scientists from across the country are gathered in Winnipeg for ArcticNet 2016”
    • 






At Wednesday's gala, a joke was made during a tribute to Martin Fortier, the retiring head of ArcticNet.

"The idea was to poke fun at some misspeaks that Martin has made over the years."

Fortier is a francophone.

(The speaker) made a statement about a misspeak that Martin had made several years ago at one of the Arctic science meetings we were holding," said Barber."He was speaking at the end of the banquet and making a few comments about the meal and he said he went and sampled some of the vegetarian women to make sure they were happy with the food they had received."

Fortier had meant "surveyed" and not "sampled." 

Barber said the speaker stated the bare bones of the word mix-up without explaining that it was another in a series of Fortier's innocent linguistic mistakes.





    

  • Bibliographer’s Note: I tried to access the Open Letter linked in the article, but it has been deleted: “Baird, a master’s student in the faculty of environment at the University of Manitoba, is one of 26 students and researchers who signed an open letter to the ArcticNet board of directors condemning the remarks made at the gala.”

      

    • I’ve only read about half of the 122 comments following this article, but they by an large seem to be criticising the students and researchers who complained. 
      • 

    

    • 






Saskatoon Teachers Association





2015





The Canadian Press, Staff. “‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ joke fell flat with teachers,” Global News, June 20, 2015, https://globalnews.ca/news/2066209/fifty-shades-of-grey-joke-fell-flat-with-teachers/ , accessed August 12, 2023





"The president of the Saskatoon Teachers’ Association is facing possible discipline for making a joke referring to a popular erotic novel. The remark John McGettigan made linking the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ trilogy and contract negotiations with the province led to an accusation of professional misconduct...Fisher says McGettigan’s comment that binding conciliation was – quote – the 'negotiating equivalent of Fifty Shades of Grey' was an attempt at humour."









"Lawyer Dennis Fisher, who presented the facts to the committee, said the charge stemmed from a complaint filed by teachers and the principal of Prince Philip School"

"There will be no disciplinary action for a former Saskatoon Teacher’s Association President."





Danny Polishchuk / Ryerson University / Comedy Bar, Toronto





2017





CBC Radio. “Why the owner of Toronto’s Comedy Bar decided to cancel a controversial ‘free speech’ show,” As It Happens, Aug 30, 2017, https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.4268431/why-the-owner-of-toronto-s-comedy-bar-decided-to-cancel-a-controversial-free-speech-show-1.4269154, accessed August 14, 2023





"It was supposed to be just another stand-up comedy night at a local club in Toronto's west end, but things turned explosive when Comedy Bar booked a show billing itself as "comedy in support of free speech."

The "No Fascist TO: Free Speech Comedy Show," headed up by comedian Danny Polishchuk, came on the heels of the "No Fascist T.O. Diversity Rally," which successfully pushed to shut down the "Stifling of Free Speech on University Campuses" event at Ryerson University. 

The shuttered Ryerson event was supposed to feature speakers Faith Goldy, a far-right reporter who was fired from Rebel Media after appearing on a neo-Nazi podcast, and Jordan Peterson, a University of Toronto professor who refuses to use non-gendered pronouns for transgender or non-binary people. 

While the comedy show wasn't associated with the cancelled event or its speakers, its name and promotional art drew immediate comparisons. After the venue's locks were smashed by vandals in protest of the show, Comedy Bar owner Gary Rideout Jr. decided to pull the plug on the whole thing."





Shefa, Sheri. “Comedian Danny Polishchuk finds himself at centre of controversy,” The Canadian Jewish News, December 21, 2017, https://thecjn.ca/arts/comedian-danny-polishchuk-finds-centre-controversy/, accessed August 14, 2023





"“Comedy is so polarized right now. I [Polishchuck]consider myself a centrist, I guess, as it should be for all comedians, but most comedy is super, super left-leaning right now and you’re almost penalized for not going along with that line of thinking,” said the 34-year-old, Toronto-based comedian, who has been performing on stage for about eight years.
“When I started, there were no shows that had language restrictions. Now, there are many where you can’t do certain jokes.… There was a show posted yesterday and it said anyone who is deemed problematic on or off stage is not welcome. So I was like, ‘OK, is there a list of people?’ ”





"He said the show was canceled after someone broke the locks on the doors of the venue.

'They were saying I was associating with neo-Nazis. Obviously, I wasn’t. It was really crazy,' he said. 'People were saying that free speech is a term that only white supremacists use.'"





Western University





2011





Dehaas, Josh. “Raunchy comedy stirs controversy at Western,” Macleans, December 29, 2011, https://macleans.ca/education/uniandcollege/raunchy-comedy-stirs-controversy-at-western/, accessed August 14, 2023





"A University of Western Ontario student and his filmmaker friend have created a raunchy comedy series—and university officials aren’t amused." 





Quebec comedian Mike Ward versus former child singer Jérémy Gabriel





2012-2021





Zimonjic, Peter. “Comedian who mocked disabled child singer did not breach limits of free speech: Supreme Court,” CBC News, October 29, 2021, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-ward-scc-jérémy-gabriel-1.6229032, accessed August 14, 2023





"A comedian who mocked a disabled child singer for years did not breach the limits of free speech guaranteed under Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled." 

..."In 2016, Ward was ordered to pay $35,000 in moral and punitive damages for comments he made about Gabriel, who has a congenital disorder characterized by skull and facial abnormalities."





Little Mountain Gallery (Vancouver) Verus Sophie Buddle





2023





Dzsurdzsa, Cosmin. “Vancouver comedy club cancelled comedian for ‘offensive’ residential school joke,” True North, July 25, 2023, https://tnc.news/2023/07/25/comedian-cancelled-residential-school/, accessed August 14, 2023





"Buddle landed herself in hot water in 2022 after she referenced residential schools in a joke about a Catholic friend who couldn’t get an abortion. Buddle’s performance was aired as a Crave special."

..."According to LMG’s Board of Directors, it was the first time they have ever cancelled a comedian over such a matter and relied on the advice of “diversity, equity and inclusion” consultants."





Rumor’s Comedy Club Versus Rich Vos





2022





Seigal, Mike. “Rich Vos Banned from Canadian Comedy Club over offensive remarks made from stage,” The Laugh Button, June 2, 2022, https://thelaughbutton.com/rich-vos-banned-from-canadian-comedy-club-over-offensive-remarks-made-from-stage, accessed August 14, 2023





"Rumor’s Comedy Club has decided not to book comedian Rich Vos again following a performance in which several patrons walked out. According to a CBC news report, Vos made several targeted comments at members of the audience that they felt were offensive. Tyler Schultz, the General Manager of Rumor’s Comedy Club, told CBC that the comments were made in response to what Schultz perceived as loud and disruptive behavior from a group of Indigenous women. The comments, which referenced the audience members’ Native American heritage, were seen as racist and offensive by some of the people in attendance, prompting a reported 30 people to leave the club."










STAND-UP AND CANADIAN CAMPUSES










Bibliographer’s Note: The Coyne article below is not Canadian. However, I hallmark it here because one of my research aims is to find out whether there are any behavioural agreements required for comedians performing on Canadian campuses. 





The document mentioned in the above excerpt is embedded in the article. 





"Apparently the University of London, or at least the student UNICEF on Campus organiation at UL’s School of Oriental and African Studies sent the following proposed agreement to five comedians they asked to perform at a benefit for UNICEF. (They were asking these comedians to perform for free.) Read it! One recipient, Konstantin Kisin, shared the document on Twitter."














COURSES AND SYMPOSIA










University of Regina





2016





Mills, Peter. “Class clowns: University of Regina comedy class offers unique learning,” CBC News Saskatchewan, Nov 30, 2016, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/university-of-regina-stand-up-class-is-no-joke-1.3874627, accessed August 14, 2023





Concordia University





2017





Durand, Christian. “Does Controversial Humour Harm or Heal?” March 1, 2017, https://www.concordia.ca/cunews/main/stories/2017/03/01/symposium-to-unpack-divisive-comedy-through-a-feminist-lens.html, accessed August 14, 2023





"Can a joke about sexual assault ever be funny? Is it appropriate to use people with disabilities as comedic fodder? In recent years, high profile comedians such as Daniel Tosh and Mike Ward have landed in hot water for controversial material dealing with these sensitive topics.

For almost a year, the 13 members of Concordia’s Feminism and Controversial Humour working group have been meeting to discuss, dissect and debate the often blurry lines between funny and just plain inappropriate.

The group is part of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture and co-organized by three professors from the Faculty of Arts and Science: Danielle Bobker, associate professor of English; Gada Mahrouse, associate professor at the Simone de Beauvoir Institute and Emer O’Toole, assistant professor at the School of Irish Studies.

They are joined by other scholars within and beyond Concordia, as well as local comedians.

...From March 9 to 10, the group is bringing the discussion to the public during the Feminism and Controversial Humour Symposium taking place on the Sir George Williams Campus"





Queen’s University





2023-2024 Calendar





Queen’s University, “DRAM 235  Stand-up Comedy,”  Academic Calendar 2023-2024, https://www.queensu.ca/academic-calendar/search/?P=DRAM%20235, accessed August 14, 2023










ON-CAMPUS STAND-UP PERFORMANCES










University of Alberta 





2022





"Hoodo Hersi is a Toronto-based comedian recently selected as a New Face: Canada at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, where her performance aired on the Comedy Network." 

"Martha Chaves is a Nicaraguan-Canadian award-winning comedian, actor, activist, and playwright."

"Stephanie Pangowish is a sassy and bad-assy Anishnaabekwe from Wiikwemkoong on Manitoulin Island and is the co-founder of Canada’s 1st collective of Indigenous women stand up comedians, Manifest Destiny’s Child." 

"Celeste Lampa has become a favourite in Western Canada’s comedy scene. Her material stems from being a first-generation Filipino-Canadian, a mom, a wife; and from being extremely tired."









University of British Columbia





2022














OFF-CAMPUS STAND-UP 










University of Toronto Versus McGill





2019





Your Hood’s a Joke, “University of Toronto vs McGill University – roast battle – stand up comedy,” You Tube, March 22, 2019, accessed August 14, 2023