A close inspection of stand-up comedy and comedic shows since 9/11 suggests that there has been an increase in the use of Holocaust humor in the world of American comedy. This talk not only explores the potential reasons behind this sudden outburst of laughs in the context of Auschwitz, but also aims to differentiate Holocaust humor that works and Holocaust humor that crosses the line. In other words, where does the ethical line fall? Can Holocaust humor ever be funny or inappropriate? Further, what does the prevalence of this kind of humor suggest about American society over the past decade...
Dai (enough), Iris Bahr’s 2008 Lucille Lortel Award winning one-woman show, thrusts the audience into a bustling Tel Aviv café, moments before a suicide bomber enters. Bahr brings to life members of all strata of Israeli society remarkably capturing the humor and humanity of their existence under the most tragic of circumstances. Receiving a rave review by The New York Times and “Four Stars” by The Times of London, Bahr was invited to perform DAI at the United Nations for over 100 ambassadors and delegates.
Israel has a large talent pool in film and television given its small size, and the quality and originality of its TV programming is also disproportionate to its minuscule production budgets. But thanks to a several enterprising producers, Hollywood is proving very willing and able to exploit the results. Beyond increasing the exposure of its creative capital, the trend of acquiring and remaking Israeli TV shows has the potential to improve Israel’s image abroad. Writer-producer David Israel will discuss his transformational passion for Israeli content and talent, and his involvement in the...
