Comedy should speak truth to power. It should always be aimed upward. When it's aimed downward, it's called bullying.
Interpretation
Comedy is most effective when it challenges those in power rather than targeting the vulnerable.
In this quote, Jimmy Dore emphasizes the role of comedy as a tool for social commentary. He believes that humor should critique and challenge authority figures and institutions, helping to reveal truths and injustices. When comedy shifts its focus to ridicule those who are already marginalized or weaker, it ceases to serve its purpose of enlightenment and becomes an act of bullying instead.
In practice
A comedian might use this quote as a rallying cry during a stand-up performance focused on social justice issues.
If you're using comedy to shame people for getting informed and questioning authority, you're not doing comedy, you're doing propaganda, 'cause comedy is supposed to poke holes in the status quo and challenge authority and question authority.
Percy wouldn't notice a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing one of Dobby's hats.
Everyone has a right to be stupid, but Comrade MacDonald abuses the privilege.
Custard: A detestable substance produced by a malevolent conspiracy of the hen, the cow, and the cook.
But do not give it to a lawyer's clerk to write, for they use a legal hand that Satan himself will not understand.
Whiskey is carried into committee rooms in demijohns and carried out in demagogues.
Things I wonder about the FBI's list of the "Ten Most Wanted" criminals: When they catch a guy and he comes off the list, does number eleven automatically move up? And does he see it as a promotion? Does he call his criminal friends and say, "I made it, Bruno. I'm finally on the list"?
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.