Chortle's Opinions section is an arena for fans to share their views on any aspect of comedy.
We invite general comment pieces about particular aspects of the comedy scene (although reviews of individual shows or performers tend not to be suited to this section except in very rare circumstances). Contributions should be at least 500 words in length, in a similar tone to something you might read in a broadsheet newspaper, and emailed to steve@chortle.co.uk
We reserve the right to edit pieces – although we will be careful not to change the meaning of anything – or not to use them at all. By submitting an article you grant Chortle indefinite licence to use it freely; though you retain the copyright on it to use it elsewhere.
Let's all be grown-ups, Vikki Littlemore urges
09/07/2009 … In television’s wholesome and repressed past, comedians dared not offend the British public with profanities and sexually explicit vulgarities, so confined themselves…
But maybe not where you expect, says Chris Thomas
05/07/2009 … Many people ache on about how ‘comedy isn’t what it used to be’, and that there is far too much crude humour, swearing, violence and sexiness on our screens.
Adam Gilder highlights comedians embracing the web
03/07/2009 … The seemingly all-encompassing nature of the internet has had an unquestionably huge effect on the world of comedy.
Stephen Drayton wonders why comedy has to be so dark?
01/07/2009 … I've recently returned to stand up comedy.
Ivor Dembina on why Jewish comedy is in retreat
30/06/2009 … I hadn’t yet read Simcha Weinstein’s book Shtick Shift: Jewish Humour in the 21st Century but, after reading the review on Chortle, I already felt ill-disposed…
From ‘man in the pub’ Mark Randall
28/06/2009 … I best start by explaining that I am not a comedian but merely a fan of stand up comedy.
26/06/2009 … As Luke Fox thundered on this site earlier today, people have been responding instantly to famous deaths with jokes since Henry VIII.
26/06/2009 … There can only be one answer to the death of the king of pop at 50 years old: shock.
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