Jewish Film in America
Why is it that there are so many Jewish comedians/comediennes? How do their routines show engagement with American society, and also their own identity as Jews? A note here, the hiding/effacing of Jewishness is also a viable topic, but when you look at this, try to see why/how it’s done, and is it effective? You could also look at stand-up as a very Jewish delivery, or perhaps more on the issue of incivility – why does Jewish humor often transgress the social boundaries established by others? You could also look at the relationship among Jewish and Black comedians. You could look at the Friars Club – and the concept of “roasting.
Answer preview
One of the features of the entertainment industry is its diversity. The entertainment industry, especially in America, is filled with people from a worldwide scope. It is, therefore, no surprise to find Jewish figures in the field. In the early 20th century, the Jews started making appearances in the industry. It is around the 1940s that they were completely inculcated into the American entertainment industry featuring an increased on-screen presence. It is, however, important to note that the Jews seem to be making up quite the population of the comedy sector of the industry (Meier, 2017). There is a heavy Jewish presence in comedy, for example, the three stooges, Woody Allen, the Marx brothers, Adam Sandler. It is in this light, this paper aims at understanding the presence of the Jews in comedy.
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