Others are momentarily shocked but then, as they see themselves in past moments portrayed on stage they laugh embarrassedly. The same spectrum of reaction is followed by the Negroes in the audience. The more courageous and the freer dig it immediately and respond. Then there are those who fear it will rock the boat inhibits them. Thus it is with Bruce's humor in many areas.
Comedians divide in their reactions.
Any of them, from the bland Bob Newhart to the salty Mort Sahl who are themselves based on the same assumptions of paradox and pretense, go down the line with him. Like Charlie Parker, Bruce's humor is the seminal influence of his generation and a decade from now its effects will be so widespread that those influenced by it may not even be aware of it. Bruce has already opened up new areas for other comics to explore and it is a testament to the artistic density of the structure of his art that it is so rewarding line by line and concept by concept. Bruce has opened the door to a reconsideration of everything in our society except the basic truths of love and beauty and honesty and truth itself. He is, in essence, attacking the whole of our society from the point of view of a street-wise primitive Christian preacher.