Jewish-American comedy
American-Jewish comedy is, in part, a continuation of the traditional role of humor in Jewish culture among historical and contemporary American performers. It has appealed to both Jewish and wider mainstream audiences.[1] At various times in American history, the field of comedy has been dominated by Jewish comedians.[2]
History
The Borscht Belt arose in the early 20th century out of the tradition of Yiddish theater, in Jewish resort areas in the Catskill Mountains in New York. Many of the most famous Jewish comedians of the twentieth century launched their careers there.[3] Many of the comedians gained a wider mainstream audience with the rise of Vaudeville.[4]
Until recent years, most Jewish comedians adopted stage names that did not sound ethnic, as a way of gaining wider acceptance.[3] Even among those who did not want to be considered Jewish comedians, their experiences as Jews were often included their humor, including their moral sensibility.[3]
Themes and styles
Some common themes among American Jewish comedians include their heritage as Jews,[1] experience of living between two worlds (ethnic and mainstream),[1] anxiety of living as a minority in America[1] and the foibles of American culture.[1] Jewish comedy has often featured ridicule and insult jokes, including insulting other minority groups.[2]
Characteristics of comedians include wit,[1] verbal skills,[1] self-mockery,[1] and a "critical edge".[1]
Women in Jewish-American humor
Whereas women had not been prominent in comedic roles in Europe, the changing roles of Jewish women in America allowed for the emergence of a class of female Jewish comedians, who have focused on their perspective as women, often adopting a feminist position.[1]
Representative examples
Following is a partial list of notable Americans for whom Jewishness is relevant to their role as comedians or humorists.
- Woody Allen[1][5]
- Judd Apatow[3]
- Roseanne Barr[1]
- Todd Barry[1]
- Belle Barth[1]
- Jack Benny[3]
- Gertrude Berg[1]
- Milton Berle[5]
- Shelley Berman[4]
- Sandra Bernhard[1]
- Alex Borstein[6]
- Fanny Brice[1]
- Albert Brooks[4]
- Mel Brooks[3]
- Lenny Bruce[5]
- George Burns[4]
- Sid Caesar[5]
- David Cross[1]
- Billy Crystal[4]
- Rodney Dangerfield[5]
- Fran Drescher[1]
- Susie Essman][1]
- Totie Fields[1]
- David Frye[1]
- Judy Gold[1]
- Buddy Hackett[4]
- Goldie Hawn[1]
- Jackie Hoffman[1]
- Judy Holliday[1]
- Jay Jason
- Madeline Kahn[1]
- Andy Kaufman[4]
- Danny Kaye[4]
- Lisa Kron[1]
- Tom Lehrer[1]
- Wendy Leibman[1]
- Jerry Lewis[3]
- Richard Lewis
- Groucho Marx and the Marx Brothers[3]
- Jackie Mason[3]
- Elaine May[1]
- Bette Midler[1]
- Molly Picon[1]
- Rain Pryor[1]
- Gilda Radner[1]
- Don Rickles[4]
- Joan Rivers[1]
- Mort Sahl[4]
- Adam Sandler[4]
- Jerry Seinfeld[3]
- Sarah Silverman[1]
- Jon Stewart
- The Three Stooges[4]
- Sophie Tucker[1]
- Lewis Black
- Marc Maron
- David Cross
- Henny Youngman[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Antler, Joyce. "The Gift of Jewish Women's Comedy". Jewish Women's Archive.
- ^ a b Goldsmith, Aleza (December 21, 2001). "Prolific professor takes serious look at Jewish funny men in new book". Jewish Weekly Bulletin.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Yarrow, Allison Gaudet (June 07, 2010). "The Man Who Wanted To Be Woody Allen". Jewish Daily Forward.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Epstein, Lawrence J. (2002). The Haunted Smile: The Story of Jewish Comedians in America. PublicAffairs. ISBN 586481622.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help) - ^ a b c d e f Arthur Asa Berger (2001). Jewish Jesters. Hampton Press.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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