In
their film Paul Provenza and comedian Penn Jillette (of
'Penn and Teller' fame) recorded the telling of one very
dirty joke, as told by a hundred comics on stage. It's
a well-crafted view into the often rarely appreciated
craft of comedy, and the brilliance of these stand-up
story tellers who, with the basic tools and essentials
of a single set-up and punch-line, are each able to create
their own vastly different 'and hilarious' versions of
the one joke.
Naturally,
and in quite typical fashion of late, there has indeed
been an incredible amount of hot air fuss cast over the
release of the documentary, and indeed the AMC Theatre
chain announced that it would not be showing the movie
in its cinemas. Certainly the flick isn't for children,
and perhaps, not for everybody, but in a country so eager
to espouse the importance of free speech we've certainly
seen dramatic limits placed upon such freedoms in the
post 9-11 and Patriot Act world. Much publicised nipple-dramas
involving Janet Jackson, and suspensions, fines and criticisms
for the likes of Howard Stern from a monolithic Clear
Channel Communications have only contributed to the mess.
This
isn't to say that Australians are the most open-minded
people in the world, either, and we're certainly still
a ways away from reaching European levels of ease about
a great many things, however I'd incredibly surprised
to find a movie like 'The Aristocrats' receiving theatrical
bans upon release there later in the year, regardless
of recent surprisingly severe (and well-publicised) film
ratings handed down by the Office of Film and Literature
Classification. Let's not forget, after all, that Australia
is the country whose former Prime Minister once announced
to the nation in a drunken stupor that any boss who sacked
employees for being late to work on the day Australia
won the America's Cup was 'a bum'.
Furore
over the language and subject matter considered in 'The
Aristocrats' got me thinking, though about how little
is left 'beyond the more obvious and erroneous efforts
to make racist or wholly politically incorrect remarks'
that can truly offend our sensibilities. Since the spit-polish
shine of the 1950's we've just about seen and heard everything,
and certainly in terms of language there isn't much left
'at least for the moment' that can raise much of a stir.
Certainly profanity is still something that is frowned
upon, and certainly well-kept from our children, but most
everyone nowadays makes frequent use of words like 'shit'
and 'fuck' so much that their original meaning and power
is swiftly evaporating.
Perhaps
the only word left that makes some folks still shiver
is the dreaded 'c' word. That said, I'd like to think
not all of my friends are complete thugs and ruffians,
and within circles of generally young men in Australia
(but still rarely around women), the use of the 'c'
word is not only now common, but easily substituted
as a term of endearment, much as someone might call
someone 'a good shit', 'a lucky shit', 'a funny shit',
etc... 
As
friends quickly rushed to warn me upon arrival in America,
however, the 'c' word hasn't made such dramatic inroads
into circles here just yet. Rather, its out'loud use
would likely put you on a fast track to social expulsion,
a punch in the face and perhaps even arrest. But it's
only a matter of time, surely, and for right or wrong,
my use of the word seems to have begun to rub off on
a few locals I've met who now enthusiastically greet
me on the phone with a 'Hey Evan, you c**t, how are
things?'
Breaking
down barriers and pulling society one step closer to
the gutter. That's me.
Go
see 'The Aristocrats'. You'll love it and thank me later,
you silly c**ts.
Ezy
Reading is out every Monday.
