Urban Sophisticates Discriminate Against Terrible Comedy
If your taste in comedy tends toward the more cerebral it might have something to do with the fact that you think you're better than other people, says Science.
Professor Sam Friedman from Edinburgh University questioned 1,000 people at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival followed by more in-depth interviews. The sociologist noted their employment, education and what their parents did for a living.
He found that middle-class interviewees had developed an interest in 'abstract and intellectual forms of art' thanks to the influences of their parents and university friends.
He said this preference was actually a form of 'veiled snobbery.'
See? This whole time you were thinking you didn't like Jeff Dunham or Larry the Cable Guy because of the racism or homophobia or general lack of amusing material, but it turns out you're actually too spoiled to allow yourself to enjoy the racism and homophobia and general lack of amusing material in Jeff Dunham and Larry the Cable Guy's acts. Snob!
You might be a veiled snob if…
White trash they love comedy like this; White snobs they love comedy like THIS.
And what IS the deal with airline food? Am I right, ladies?!
This does not bode well for Matt Cherette's big move to New York.
Ha!
My snobbery is NOT veiled.
Exactly.
Right. What if you KNOW you are better than other people?
Comedy falls into two categories.
Martinis: dry and with a bite.
Scotch: watered down and 12 years old.
I prefer martinis.
Hey now, some of us drink our scotch neat.
or
Balk: 12 years old with an underbite.
Professor Sam can pull my finger. And I don't mean in an abstract way.
Veiled? How puerile. I prefer the adjective "raging" in front of my snobbery.
Truly, you are my people.
'For example, Eddie Izzard crossed over both classes, but working-class respondents liked him because he was silly or absurd, whereas the middle class liked him because of his surreal sense of humour.'
Exactly. This thing is like this other thing.
The problem isn't US, it's Jeff Dunham's lack of comedic diversification. (Careful though, Jeff, don't accidentally turn it into intellectual humor.)
As soon as I pull these pencils out of my nostrils, I intend to write a rebuttal for The Harvard Lampoon.
Is that the same reason I don't eat popcorn chicken?
Sounds like you're a popcorn chicken-chicken. (QUICKLY: If you didn't enjoy this science should make you feel bad)
_'The middle classes prefer comedy that is complex, original and invoking positive and negative reactions, while the working classes prefer observational comedy that guarantees pleasure and is based on everyday life'._
Snobbery? Or need less encouragement that EVERYTHING'S OK?
Also: like poor people can't be snobs. YES THEY CAN, they just don't get any credit for it.
"Don't mind her. Her idea of humor is just an incisive observation, cleverly phrased and delivered with impeccable timing."
still, none of this explains the appeal of chelsea handler.
"Boobs!"
Way to stay objective, Dr. Sam!
So I should be really thankful that my parents had the professions that they did?