Comedy as will to power?

In these episodes of Philosphise this! (1, 2) , there is a discussion around Comedy from the lens of Philosophy. And it got me thinking. Especially about one of the theories and surrounding superiority Nietzsche's will to power. While will to power wasn't included in the discussion and the focus was more on why we laugh, this alternate angle has some fit.

When I mention Nietzsche's will to power, its more from the lens of superiority (and maybe its not actually what he meant). But is Comedy a form of action towards superiority? To undermine something or someone to boost one's own ego and status? In most cases, what is said is at the expense of someone or something, at least in roast comedy formats. What happens when a joke is said? It is no longer taken seriously and it is cared for less.

Coming back to the episode, there are three theories on why we laugh that the episode covers 1. Superiority 2. Relief 3. Incongruity. Its the format of roasting that I view in category one. It's to claim a higher superiority by bring down someone or something or raising one owns position. Collectively we want to see that go down in status and if there's this collective alignment in sync with the comic, we laugh because we feel good about ourselves by watching the said thing or someone go down. I haven't seen much roast comedy or this style but I suspect it always attacks the top or it may go after a specific someone just to boost the comic's position, or even what is collectively despised by the masses.

If its goes against this principle and we collectively don't think it should be brought down, we don't laugh and get offended. The latest event that took place was due to this. A violation of the principle on what should not be brought down or cared for less. What shouldn't be taken less seriously. You add other vulgar & obscene phrases and suddenly the mob is after you. There is a lot of dirty language, abuses in addition that is used in this format and when we abuse there is a form of relief. But it adds fire in bringing down something or someone.

In my earlier post I talked about the Sacred lines of Comedy and that it derives from certain values or ideas that we don't want to bring down. Why isn't religion, politics, family joked about as often or something that the masses care for? You rarely see jokes for whom you feel sorry for or who you identify with. Its mean.

All these are of course speculations on a certain type of Comedy which I have very little experience of and do not think about much. But it is perhaps this reason I have never liked roast comedy or aggressive comedy for its a form of status game and power grab?