Julia Louis-Dreyfus, known for her role as Elaine Benes on ‘Seinfeld,’ recently shared her perspective on the ongoing debate about political correctness in comedy. She expressed to The New York Times that comedy and drama from past decades have elements that haven’t aged well.
She believes that being sensitive to certain issues doesn’t necessarily mean the end of comedy. When she hears complaints about political correctness, she sees it as a warning sign, as it often signifies something else. She argues that being mindful of certain sensitivities is not detrimental.
On the other hand, her former co-star, Jerry Seinfeld, known for his mundane observational humor, has been vocal about his disdain for political correctness. He stirred controversy in April when he attributed the scarcity of humorous TV shows to the ‘extreme left and PC nonsense and people worrying excessively about offending others.’ He has been expressing his frustration about political correctness since 2015, criticizing college students who point out prejudice, claiming they ‘don’t know what they’re talking about.’ His remarks were widely criticized.
Seinfeld’s views on political correctness are not particularly intriguing and are common among a group of older comedians who appear to have difficulty adapting to a culture that is increasingly inclusive. His views are also echoed by many right-wing individuals who attribute the perceived decline in comedy to the vague concept of ‘wokeness’ on the left.
Louis-Dreyfus offers a more insightful and less stubborn perspective on the issue than Seinfeld. She told the Times that ‘political correctness, as far as it promotes tolerance, is obviously fantastic,’ but she was unsure whether art produced with this mindset is ‘better or not.’
She also pointed out that even universally acclaimed films from the past contain attitudes that would be unacceptable today. She believes it’s important to stay vigilant as societal norms shift. In her view, these changes are largely positive.
