Racist Comedy?

[Max Sawicky]

Bruce, who I never thought was all that funny,
was on trial for dirty words, not for racial
language.  The Brooks play (based on my favorite
movie of all time) is a bit of a curiosity now.
I wonder how gays look at it, or at the original
film.  Robin Williams did a lot of gay jokes but
never seemed to catch any flak.  In these cases,
the spirit in which the humor is offered seems to
dissolve any offense, but maybe not.  I'm on the
wrong end to judge.

Outrage is big business now.  That doesn't mean
there is more tolerance.  Some rap describes
horrific acts of violence, but not because there
is 'more tolerance' for that now than before.
I think something else is working.  I'll leave
the explanation to the cultural experts here.

The Tucker/Rock stuff is not new, in my view.
"In-tribe" humor of this sort is as old as
anything. 30 years ago, the revolutionary
'Last Poets' made fun of welfare recipients.
("N-words are scared of revolution . . . ")
It's the exposure of this stuff to
outsiders that rings alarm bells.

mbs

How "acceptable" was Lenny Bruce thirty years ago? The man was put on
trial for using obscenities. As for Mel Brooks, he has the most
successful Broadway play right now. Put Eminem and "South Park" ontop
of that, and you have a culture which can accept "outrage." Granted
that there is also a very strong backlash, but I don't think we are
less tolerant of such things than thirty years ago.

On the issue of what is acceptable within one's "tribe" -- there was
an interesting essay in "The New Republic" about comedians Chris
Tucker and Chris Rock. The writer noted that both of them use elements
from minstrel shows in their acts such as high-pitched voices and
bug-eyes. Let us not forget Rock's sneering attitude toward "n-words
on welfare."

    -- David