Page 347 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 347
Focus on Limiting and Ordering:
Thinking about Definition,
Classification, and Process
Who is the man in the photo? As the police officer searches his
pockets, he has the resigned look of someone who has been
through it all before. Is he a career criminal? A gangster? No,
he is Lenny Bruce, a comedian who was arrested repeatedly
during the 1960s for the content of his comedy act. Like many
comedians today, Bruce considered any topic fair game for
comedy, and his act was often raunchy and profane.
Society was less tolerant then, and Bruce was charged with
obscenity in a trial that became famous in the 1960s.
Celebrities testified on his behalf and newspapers reported
every detail. Ultimately, Lenny Bruce was convicted of
obscenity.
