Below, I have revised my original version of the 3rd paragraph of my essay “An Inconvenient Comedy: Sarah Silverman’s Controversial, Absurd Character.” Separating the paragraph into two, I was able to elaborate on my arguments more. In the original draft, I do not think I explained well enough the reasoning behind the outlandishness of Silverman’s character. The final draft, however, solved this issue and made other parts of the essay easier to read. Added text is in red and deleted text is crossed out.
First Draft
Silverman’s depression likely allows her to see the world through a different lens.
Instead of seeing events as simply either good or bad, her outsider perspective helps her formulate her strong opinions and comedic style. When, in one routine, Silverman jokes that she believes blacks, had they been in Germany at the time, would have been killed instead of the Jews, she does so completely seriously and, ironically, almost childishly. Of course, most people in America know that racism and the Holocaust are very bad things. However, most people in America have not had the experiences Silverman has had. She sees that racism and the Holocaust are bad, but she takes it further. She does not simply make fun of Jewish and black groups, she assumes the role of a bigoted, ignorant person expressing her “views” of the groups of people. Silverman has described her approach as “taking something bad, then going with the complete opposite.” Further, her ironically childish character is as much an outsider from society as Silverman is herself. Her character’s outlandishness allows the audience to laugh at otherwise controversial views because they know that the joke itself is the fact that the views she expresses are so outlandish themselves. Had she lived a more pampered childhood, without depression or troubles, Silverman likely would not be as able to show her outsider’s flavor, and would likely not be as funny, at least in the same ways that she is now.
Final Draft
Silverman’s depression likely allows her to see the world through a different lens.
Instead of seeing events as simply either good or bad, her outsider perspective helps her formulate her strong opinions and comedic style. When, in one routine, Silverman jokes that she believes blacks, had they been in Germany at the time, would have been killed instead of the Jews, she does so completely seriously and, ironically, almost in a childish manner childishly. Of course, most people in America know that racism and the Holocaust are very bad things are unimaginable atrocities. However, most people in America have not had the experiences Silverman has had. While most people know that racism and the Holocaust are atrocities of humanity, these people lack the same outsider/insider experiences of Silverman. She sees that racism and the Holocaust are bad, but she takes it even further. She does not Instead of simply make making fun of Jewish and black groups, she assumes the role of a bigoted, ignorant naive person expressing her “views” of these groups of people. In a perfect depiction of her comedy, Silverman has described her approach as “taking something bad, then going with the complete opposite.”
Further, her ironically childish character is as much an outsider from society as Silverman is herself. Her character’s outlandishness allows the audience to laugh at otherwise controversial views because they know that the joke itself is the fact that the views she expresses are so outlandish themselves. The outlandishness of her character is so unbelievable that the audience is able to laugh at otherwise very controversial statements. Part of Silverman’s comedy is the fact that the views she expresses are so outlandish and unlikely themselves. Removed from societal norms and expectations, her character can say more controversial without backlash from viewers. The audience knows, because of the absurdity of her statements, that Silverman does not believe that Jews driving German cars is “gay,” so they do not feel bad laughing about it. Had she lived a more pampered childhood, without depression or troubles, Silverman likely would not be as able to show her outsider’s flavor, and would likely not be as funny (at least in the same ways that she is now).
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