Should Comedy Cross Lines?

Growth comes with growing pains, and as we work to create a more inclusive, welcoming society, we see that reflected in how audiences respond to art. Artists and entertainers alike have been ostracised from social media and have even lost work for offensive conduct. But what if it’s your job to shock and satirise? Comedians go where the rest of us can’t – occasionally crossing lines and causing offense. In recent years, we’ve seen a number of comedians come under intense public scrutiny after saying something objectionable. In the second and final episode on the future of comedy and cancel culture, Dr Susan Carland talks to comedians about walking the fine line between humour and offense, the responsibility of the comedian, and which jokes they think we’ll cringe over in the coming years. Our guests today on the What Happens Next? podcast are Peter Helliar, presenter of The Project on Network 10; TV personality and activist Nazeem Hussain; 2020 RAW Comedy winner Prue Blake; and Michael Shafar, stand-up comic and writer for The Project. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.