Everyone knows Jews are funny. But the question is, why? With a history fraught with trauma and persecution, the Jewish people have historically used humor as a “release valve,” and even as a tool of survival. Jews have used their outsider status and the distinctive characteristics of Jewish humor - self-deprecation, challenging authority, and audacity - to rise disproportionately in the American comedy scene.
Big Ideas
- Jews are disproportionately represented in American comedy.
- The trauma Jews have endured for thousands of years serves as a source of inspiration for comedic content.
- Despite generations and generations of persecution, Jews have developed the chutzpah to laugh and joke about our survival.
Essential Questions
- What makes Jews so funny?
- Is it ok to joke about touchy subjects?
- Should comedians have free reign to make jokes about any subject they choose
