Word: carliner
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...stuff of George Carlin's comedy is words. He makes them sound nice as he says them, but more importantly, his comedy reveals words for what they are--artificial symbols for items and concepts that exist in reality. Like fantasies, words are creations of the human mind; if there were no human minds, there would be no words...
With his stark, honest irony, Carlin has shown countless audiences how silly and obsolete America's taboos and social inventions really are, especially in the age of the city. "Cultures have to have some things they consider unthinkable, and in ancient times, health or survival reasons entered into this," he says. But it would be really nice to channel some of the things going on today that are really unspeakable--like severe deprivation--and make them the focus of our attention...
...much for the critics who say Carlin's comedy is kid stuff. Despite living in the luminous shadow of Lenny Bruce, pioneer of modern irony and consciousness, Carlin has steadily dug out his niche as a performing artist...
...George Carlin has never tried to change the world; he just likes to run up on that stage and gesticulate and sweat and express, and the gales of laughter--sometimes even hysterical and mad laughter--make him feel good. "My purpose is self-expression, and when they applaud or laugh, it's their way of saying, 'Hey man, we like your self-expression," he says...
...George Carlin likes to "get his strokes" at his work, and he's been fortunate and deserving. He's absolutely correct when he says he was working in "a safer era," but perhaps it is too safe for his own good...