What Impact Does Bruce Have On The American

The Legend, The Martyr, and The Sick Comedian If laughter is the best medicine, then why was Lenny Bruce known as a “sick comedian”? The answer is he was sick, sick of the hypocrisy, censorship and injustice of society. Bruce was a comedian known for his shocking, boundary breaking social commentary infused comedy in the 50’s - 60’s. His comedy was more than just comedy or a career, his comedy represented a turning point in the social climate of America, pushing through the traditional masses and their standards with his open confrontational comedy. In the journey to suppress and censor him, Lenny Bruce became a legend who forever made an impact on society. Lenny Bruce changed society and its standards by fighting censorship. Bruce's sets

Supreme Court reversed years of earlier precedent in the landmark case Miller v. California, which broadened First Amendment protection for material like Bruce’s, based on an argument of the material’s underlying literary, artistic and social value." (Maranzani). She speaks about how the underlying value of works such as his were being recognized and brought up during the case Miller v. California, nearly 2 decades after his death, evidently showing his work's impact. Lenny Bruce's sets were culturally relevant and talked about controversial topics that people at the time refused to confront or see the value in. Although these sets elicited a negative reaction, it led a trailing fight against censorship that could not be suppressed. His acts allowed for the protections of free speech to go broader than the narrow ideals of the conservative public. His influence on the modern comedy industry and significant comedians is described by Stephens, stating, "He made comedy what it is today: An art form that

Bruce fought for censorship for and throughout his career, sparking a fight for broader free speech. He made his audience both laugh and think with widely regarded outrageous sets that, when looked closely at, had the critical substance missing in the public intellectual diet. He was the comedian that spoke freely about the taboo and made the first step to make the public more open of the discussion of the “taboo”. Lenny Bruce has permanently changed the social climate to where it is today. He forced his way through the conservative climate, to create broader free speech protections and a more open and progressive social entertainment scene society has currently. America's current creative climate and protections are thanks to Bruce’s work as a comedian who refused to tone down his art for the traditional masses. He was truly a sick comedian who refused to let the public believe that their standstill standards were