Tasteless Jokes

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

Welcome!

Please write down everything you know about the following topic ...

What did this joke refer to, and why was Will Smith particularly offended by it?

Do you think Will Smith was justified in slapping Chris Rock?

1. Yes, he was trying to defend his wife
2. No, violence is never acceptable
3. Other (please explain)

Articles

You and your partner will each receive an article on this event. Read the article and consider whether you agree with the author. When you are done, you will discuss your ideas with your partner.

Discuss with your partner:

• Was Will Smith justified in slapping Chris Rock?
• Was it OK for the people behind the Oscars not to interfere during the broadcast and allow Smith to receive his Oscar?
  
• Should Smith be held accountable for his actions (through legal action, or through punishment by the Oscars organisation)?
• Who is ultimately more in the wrong: Rock or Smith?
• Has the article influenced your views on this matter? Why (not)?
  

Are there topics that are too serious to joke about?

1. Yes, some things should never be joked about
2. No, it is only a joke after all

What are topics it's
unacceptable
to joke about?

Discuss with your partner: are the types of jokes listed here acceptable or not? Would you be offended by any of them?

Truly Tasteless Jokes

What kinds of jokes do you expect in this book?

What do you expect the author of this book to be like?

Let's listen until 7:32

Discuss with your partner:

• Is the author the kind of person you expected them to be?
• Do you think books like Truly Tasteless Jokes should be published? Why (not)?
• Is it ethical for the author to make (a lot of) money off a book that's designed to insult and ridicule certain people?
• Do you think our attitude to these jokes has changed? Are these jokes more or less acceptable now than they were in the past?
  

Thank you!

See you next week!