On Being Offensive

I’ve been writing a lot of comedy sketches lately. It’s probably the most enjoyable, least stressful form of writing that I do on a regular basis, because the comedy sketches I write are heavily based in dialogue, and dialogue is probably my biggest strength as a writer.

Sometimes I write sketches based around a particular concept because there’s a topic I want to explore, and the dialogue comes from the concept. Sometimes the reverse is true. I’ll think of an amusing exchange between a few different characters and then write the concept around that exchange.

Yes, the comedy sketch is probably the easiest genre for me to write if I’m talking purely about the craft of writing.

When looking at the writing process through a socially conscious lens, comedy writing can be a lot harder.

I’ve written before that I don’t have much respect for comedians who proclaim to be “equal opportunity offenders,” because I’ve seen the “I’m an equal opportunity offender” card trotted out whenever a famous person makes an insensitive or tasteless joke about a marginalized group.

Being offensive just for the sake of being offensive, for shock value, strikes me as not only mean-spirited, but intellectually dishonest. Writers who seek to offend as many people as possible, who make being offensive their primary goal, are basing their entire craft on provoking reactions from others instead of writing something from a genuine desire to tell a story.

And I don’t have much use for people who try to offend just for the sake of it.

On the other hand, I’ve been participating in a writer’s circle, and I’m the person whose comedy scripts are most likely to provoke bug eyes and “whoa, I can’t believe you went there” reactions. I was told just a few nights ago that I was “pretty twisted,” and it was (mostly) meant as a compliment.

I’m not a person who likes “offensive” or mean-spirited comedy. But I do like comedy that is very dark, uncomfortably so.

I’m the person who rolls my eyes at “offensive” comedy about a serious subject, but will make a dark joke about the same serious subject.

I like comedy that challenges the status quo and makes people think, even if it makes people squirm to think about that subject.

People are bound to be offended by some of the sketches I’ve written, even though my intention is not to offend, but make people laugh and make people think about serious issues.

As I’ve discovered, there are, indeed, going to be some people who are offended by just about everything.

But I also think the “some people are going to be offended by everything” line is an excuse that lazy and/or mean-spirited comics use to defend their nastiness and/or lack of talent.

As a writer, I try not to worry too much about how others might react to my finished product, because focusing too heavily on reader/viewer reactions can hinder the writing process. But I also don’t want to go too far in the other direction, where I’m so focused on my own vision that I neglect to listen to constructive criticism or take other people’s experiences into account.

I’m still not sure how to find that balance.