I personally do not believe that past works of comedy should be viewed through today's moral scope. When watching a comedy from a bygone era, one must remember the social state of the world at the time the work was produced. Could a movie such as Blazing Saddles be produced and released in today's world climate without Mel Brooks being socially ostracized and the movie banned, or dropped from the theaters due to massive demonstrations? I think not, and that is okay in today's society but in 1974, I would ask how many people who would now condemn this movie laughed their butts off in 1974? Does that make them racist today? No, it does not and I still laugh my butt off when I re-watch Blazing Saddles and almost every Mel Brooks movie ever, which I bet, not one of them would ever be made today as they were back then. I believe that we must accept the past for what it was then, but move forward with the proper consideration of all people.
I haven't seen the Dave Chappelle bit but it was discussed by John Stewart and Stephen Colbert. My sense is that Colbert wasn't in full agreement with Stewart and I'm not sure I am either. Anti-semitism, and racism in general, is like a herpes virus; it lays in a dormant state until the immune system is engaged elsewhere and then bursts out in an ugly blister. Racism is often a sign of societal stress caused by other problems - covid, fascism, inflation. In any case I'm more in favor of confronting the racist than engaging them as Stewart is suggesting. Here is the link to the interview;
I personally do not believe that past works of comedy should be viewed through today's moral scope. When watching a comedy from a bygone era, one must remember the social state of the world at the time the work was produced. Could a movie such as Blazing Saddles be produced and released in today's world climate without Mel Brooks being socially ostracized and the movie banned, or dropped from the theaters due to massive demonstrations? I think not, and that is okay in today's society but in 1974, I would ask how many people who would now condemn this movie laughed their butts off in 1974? Does that make them racist today? No, it does not and I still laugh my butt off when I re-watch Blazing Saddles and almost every Mel Brooks movie ever, which I bet, not one of them would ever be made today as they were back then. I believe that we must accept the past for what it was then, but move forward with the proper consideration of all people.
I haven't seen the Dave Chappelle bit but it was discussed by John Stewart and Stephen Colbert. My sense is that Colbert wasn't in full agreement with Stewart and I'm not sure I am either. Anti-semitism, and racism in general, is like a herpes virus; it lays in a dormant state until the immune system is engaged elsewhere and then bursts out in an ugly blister. Racism is often a sign of societal stress caused by other problems - covid, fascism, inflation. In any case I'm more in favor of confronting the racist than engaging them as Stewart is suggesting. Here is the link to the interview;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V_sEqfIL9Q