Comedy out of tragedy: impoliteness as a ritual of entertainment

Abstract A stand-up comedy by American-Singaporean Jocelyn Chia concerning the missing Malaysian flight MH370 triggered significant backlash and public controversy, according to Malaysian and Singaporean media outlets, sparking discussions on the boundaries of comedic expression. Drawing from the concept of “entertaining impoliteness”, this research examines the use of impoliteness in comedy, focusing on how it is creatively deployed within the rituals of the comedic form. The study explores the balance between using impolite language for humor and ensuring that it remains connected to the core purpose of comedy. The findings highlight that while impoliteness can enhance creativity, its usage is limited by the need to align with the comedic ritual, as deviating too far from the main theme risks confusing or alienating the audience. This work offers insights into the structure of comedic impoliteness and suggests that while creativity can drive comedic innovation, it must always return to the central ritual of comedy. Building on this, future work could explore how comedians in different cultural contexts negotiate impoliteness and audience expectations in their performances.