Blue Room | History of Taboo
An old adage holds that it’s impolite to discuss sex, religion, or politics at the dinner table. For much of the history of American comedy, those same topics have been off-limits; Sometimes via explicit bans and censorship, but more often via unstated social norms. Comedians are constantly pushing limits and speaking out, using creative tactics like wordplay, innuendo, and satire to test the waters before tackling difficult issues directly and ferociously. Though sometimes the intent is simply to be shocking, many comedians believe boundary-breaking material serves a larger purpose. “Darkness can’t live where there’s light,” says stand-up comedian Sarah Silverman. “So that’s why it’s important to talk about things that are taboo. Otherwise they become dangerous.”
This collection contains explicit and uncensored content.
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Censored
Contains Explicit and Uncensored Content.
America has long struggled to balance a commitment to free speech with the vocal concerns of citizen’s groups and government officials worried about a decline of Western values. No group has been affected by this debate more than comedians, from the earl...
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Off Limits
Contains Explicit and Uncensored Content.
In today’s fast-paced cultural climate, standards of decency and political correctness are always changing. Given the dangers of modern “cancel culture,” why is it that taboo topics maintain their allure for comedians? Outspoken artists like Sarah Silver...
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Party Records
Contains Explicit and Uncensored Content.
When Redd Foxx’s Laff Of the Party was released on Dootone Records in 1956, it became a cult favorite, and inaugurated the new genre of the underground “party record.” Labels such as Laff Records staked out their turf releasing comedy performances that w...
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Tragedy + Time: 9/11
Contains Explicit and Uncensored Content.
When the world was grieving the events of September 11, 2001, the comedy world found itself in the precarious position of navigating when and how to laugh at the disaster in the chaotic aftermath. Late night talk shows pushed back scheduled programming, ...
