I would like to make two main observations: 1) there seems to be an assumption that the Holocaust should be a topic for humor, and 2) that all humor that touches on the Holocaust are the same.
1) Why should the Holocaust be funny? It seems to be a mark of modern society that every sorrowful has be turned into a joke or a happy moment. We are not equipped to deal with serious topics, which could explain why depression and anxiety are on the rise. When Michael Jackson died, so many of his devotees, didn't want to think about his death, or about the seriousness of death itself, but rather, they quickly turned to "celebrating his life". Six million people died in the most aggressive genocide campaign of the modern age. Why should this be funny? Is it a sign of "triumph" to laugh about it? I don't think so. Thinking about the Holocaust provides the opportunity to think about the meaning of death, life and one's personal relationship with G-d.
Should there be a balance to the Holocaust? Yes, we should rejoice in the modern day, where Jews have been able to amass power and influence. It is not the days of pogroms, and I think we should act with this in mind. G-d has blessed us with this new reality, and we should use it to G-d's glory.
The Torah's explanation for the prohibition of murder is that man was created in G-d's image. Over six million of G-d's images were murdered, and those that survived suffered terribly. Time should make those facts humorous.
2). I don't believe that every joke that touches on the Holocaust is offensive, but one should ask about what is being laughed at. The "Survivor" episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was more about the comedy of errors in confusing "survivor" with "holocaust survivor", and the following situation of the two "survivors" in comparing notes. If there was poking fun at the stereotypical image of the holocaust survivor running down the list of how bad it was, there was also poking fun at the "reality" TV show star comparing his hardships with those of a holocaust survivor. I think this comparison was really where the humor lies.
The South Park episode, "The Passion of the Jew", in my opinion, is more about a commentary regarding the controversy about "The Passion of the Christ", than about making fun of the Holocaust. During the movie's production there were people like Abraham Foxman, who were railing against the movie, and suggesting that there would be a big rise in anti-Semitism because of the movie. Cartman as a mini Hitler leading Passion fans in goose-step is making fun of that suggestion, rather than making light of the Holocaust. The comparison between the Nazis and traditional Catholicism was common for Jewish groups to make.
The bottom line is that each piece presented as art should be evaluated on its own merits, rather than lumped into a particular category.
I would like to make two main observations: 1) there seems to be an assumption that the Holocaust should be a topic for humor, and 2) that all humor that touches on the Holocaust are the same.
1) Why should the Holocaust be funny? It seems to be a mark of modern society that every sorrowful has be turned into a joke or a happy moment. We are not equipped to deal with serious topics, which could explain why depression and anxiety are on the rise. When Michael Jackson died, so many of his devotees, didn't want to think about his death, or about the seriousness of death itself, but rather, they quickly turned to "celebrating his life". Six million people died in the most aggressive genocide campaign of the modern age. Why should this be funny? Is it a sign of "triumph" to laugh about it? I don't think so. Thinking about the Holocaust provides the opportunity to think about the meaning of death, life and one's personal relationship with G-d.
Should there be a balance to the Holocaust? Yes, we should rejoice in the modern day, where Jews have been able to amass power and influence. It is not the days of pogroms, and I think we should act with this in mind. G-d has blessed us with this new reality, and we should use it to G-d's glory.
The Torah's explanation for the prohibition of murder is that man was created in G-d's image. Over six million of G-d's images were murdered, and those that survived suffered terribly. Time should make those facts humorous.
2). I don't believe that every joke that touches on the Holocaust is offensive, but one should ask about what is being laughed at. The "Survivor" episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was more about the comedy of errors in confusing "survivor" with "holocaust survivor", and the following situation of the two "survivors" in comparing notes. If there was poking fun at the stereotypical image of the holocaust survivor running down the list of how bad it was, there was also poking fun at the "reality" TV show star comparing his hardships with those of a holocaust survivor. I think this comparison was really where the humor lies.
The South Park episode, "The Passion of the Jew", in my opinion, is more about a commentary regarding the controversy about "The Passion of the Christ", than about making fun of the Holocaust. During the movie's production there were people like Abraham Foxman, who were railing against the movie, and suggesting that there would be a big rise in anti-Semitism because of the movie. Cartman as a mini Hitler leading Passion fans in goose-step is making fun of that suggestion, rather than making light of the Holocaust. The comparison between the Nazis and traditional Catholicism was common for Jewish groups to make.
The bottom line is that each piece presented as art should be evaluated on its own merits, rather than lumped into a particular category.
Yours truly,
Matthew