George Carlin - Class Clown: Seven Words

This is a video clip from George Carlin: Again!, a stand-up television special, filmed at The Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, Arizona in 1978. The specific bit, Seven Words, is taken from his audio CD Class Clown, recorded at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. Prior to Class Clown, Carlin released Take-Offs and Put-Ons in 1967 and FM & AM in 1972, receiving a Grammy nomination, and a Grammy Award respectively. Themes introduced throughout the album are anti-Vietnam War sentiment, religious suppression, and profanity. In this video Carlin introduces us to a list of words that are banned from over the air television and AM/FM radio stations and proceeds to casually associate us with the words. The use of his list of "Seven Words" introduce us to the debate of profanity and prompts us to determine for ourselves what is socially acceptable given its context. The purpose of this piece is to have us question in our own minds what language can be used in mass media, pointing out that some of the words are already referred to in mainstream media through indirect reference. This bit was the catalyst in the Supreme Court Ruling which gave power to the Federal Communications Commission in determining what was "indecent" material. His audience is meant for young adults who are more lenient towards the controversial issues he brings up.

George Carlin. George Carlin: Again! Dir. Marty Callner. The Celebrity Theater. HBO. 1978. TV Special. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Nrp7cj_tM