mondoweiss

The essence of Mel Brooks's
"The Producers" when it was made in 1968, 23 years after the genocide was that everyone would be offended by "Springtime for Hitler" and the rotating swastika. It was only when Dick Shawn was thrown into the mix and absurdity was added to absurdity, that offense turned into comedy.

When Monty Python did their "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition" routine, no one was really offended. When Torquemada was torturing Jews in a musical scene in "History of the World Part I" no one was offended.

When Inglorious Basterds came out last year some people were offended and some weren't. I don't think Inglorious Basterds could have been made 42 years ago without offending more people.