Is self ridicule an american phenomenon

[Gelgoog]

One of my history professors who has traveled around quite a bit constantly bring this up that Americans love to lampoon themselves and their government ( just go to any stand up comedy). He says that he really hasn't noted other countries doing it much if at all and says it seems to be a uniquely american thing. now i don't buy that as im fairly sure the brits have a good sense of humor especially about themselves. I've traveled a fair deal myself and can't really think of this occuring much outside the english community.

A prime example of this is Team America

[Dr. Croccer]

Obviously other countries like to ridicule themselves. That professer has probably never visited Holland, Britain, Belgium or a lot of Europe before. Even Russians and Chinese like to self-ridicule.

I'm quite surprised at hearing that Americans like the self-ridicule themselves actually.

[Gelgoog]

Obviously other countries like to ridicule themselves. That professer has probably never visited Holland, Britain, Belgium or a lot of Europe before. Even Russians and Chinese like to self-ridicule.

I'm quite surprised at hearing that Americans like the self-ridicule themselves actually.

on this forum maybe its surprising because everyone else does it so much, but surely you've watch american TV as its ripe with it.

[Dr. Croccer]

on this forum maybe its surprising because everyone else does it so much, but surely you've watch american TV as its ripe with it.

Don't see how the US is unique in that aspect so again, I'm surprised.

Dutch commercials are full of self-mockery, there are cabaratiers everywhere and lots of comical programmes like CCN.

Ever heard of Little Britain?

[Gelgoog]

Don't see how the US is unique in that aspect so again, I'm surprised.

and yet that wasnt your comment that i was addressing

I'm quite surprised at hearing that Americans like the self-ridicule themselves actually.

ADD perhaps?

[Dr. Croccer]

and yet that wasnt your comment that i was addressing

Why quote it then.

ADD perhaps?

...? Did you mean ADHD?

[Captain Blackadder]

No not really most countries have a decent sense of humour about themselves Australians bag the out of ourselves and we don't get mad when other people do it to us. See for instance Bart VS Australia we didn't do anything except say the accents were dodgy compare that to what Brazil or Japan did.

[jankren]

Slavery! yeah!!!

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Don't bypass the censor please. -Fuzz

[Dayman]

Americans did not invent self-deprecating humor.

[boofhead]

One of my history professors who has traveled around quite a bit constantly bring this up that Americans love to lampoon themselves and their government ( just go to any stand up comedy). He says that he really hasn't noted other countries doing it much if at all and says it seems to be a uniquely american thing. now i don't buy that as im fairly sure the brits have a good sense of humor especially about themselves. I've traveled a fair deal myself and can't really think of this occuring much outside the english community.

A prime example of this is Team America

Brits and Australians make entire industries out of it. If your professor didn't notice, he's a Yankee-centric blind man.

English-speaking phenomenon?

Not sure. Those Japanese game-shows are so funny they must be lampooning themselves.

[Gelgoog]

Brits and Australians make entire industries out of it. If your professor didn't notice, he's a Yankee-centric blind man.

yes i do not like him anyways. he is very arrogant and rude to his students, doesnt know as much about history as he claims and likes to make lots of liberal statements that he refuses to backup when confronted. Either way his claims most likely stem from the time he lived in germany...because those germans are a real hoot ( or as he refers to germany as Holocaust funpark).

[Dayman]

It's human nature to mock yourself, your culture, your society.

Some of the funniest stuff is self-satire. Especially since, if used properly, can bring about reform.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

Dickens ridiculed England. Cicero ridiculed Rome. Its often just called satire. Healing with morals what you wound with wit.

[LoZz]

the UK is supost to be famous for taking the piss out of its self. infact american's "weak attempt" to mock themselves has been noticed and mocked in turn by british stand ups includeing the like of bill bailey and someone else i cant remember, ether jack dee. ross noble or jimmy carr.

your teacher clearly hasnt been around as much as the world he thinks

[Boyar Son]

the UK is supost to be famous for taking the piss out of its self. infact american's "weak attempt" to mock themselves has been noticed and mocked in turn by british stand ups includeing the like of bill bailey and someone else i cant remember, ether jack dee. ross noble or jimmy carr.

your teacher clearly hasnt been around as much as the world he thinks

calling it a weak attempt show you havent been around American comedy.

[boofhead]

This is awesome self-ridicule, someone posted it a while back



What, so Americans do it best (to the professor)?



EDIT: I have to admit Rojer Ramjet is awesome.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Obviously it isn't unique to America. I am almost horrified you could even think something so ridiculously false, Scheuch. I mean where to start? Go back to ancient Athens I suppose. Go read some Aristophanes.

LOL IS ARISTOPHANES AN AMERICAN PHENOMENON LOL?

[Gelgoog]

Obviously it isn't unique to America. I am almost horrified you could even think something so ridiculously false, Scheuch. I mean where to start? Go back to ancient Athens I suppose. Go read some Aristophanes.

LOL IS ARISTOPHANES AN AMERICAN PHENOMENON LOL?

oh i knew it wasnt ferrets, i just wanted to see peoples take on this. i would imagine that some cultures (psshh towards the east) dont take to kindly to self-deprecation, but that most do it. I just thought it funny that my professor would make such a statement. Since watching non-english TV when ive been to europe is pointless i really dont know the extend of it culturally. The english nations seem to love doing it though.

btw- boofhead that clip was Hi-larious.

[Dracula]

Hmm there are countries which do not. For example Bulgaria is full of self-ridicule but Romania not. I wonder is it valid for all romanic speaking countries- France etc. ?!

[Kscott]

People in a group, in the presence of others from that group, tend to ridicule themselves.

If an outsider comes by, the chances of self-ridicule are significantly reduced.

If your professor went to China, a Chinese man would be much less likely to ridicule his culture, than if he was at the bar with a friend. That could be why he does not see this ridicule anywhere else.

At least that is my take on it, I could of course be way off on all of this.