Commentary Through Comedy (Extra Credit)

http://youtu.be/yBWbc40JLRI

http://youtu.be/V0Lmr1BEI1o


Humor has a way of addressing the things that can't be talked about. This is why stand up comedy has become so popularized. Satire is used to talk about subjects that are "swept under the rug". These "jokes" create social awareness to the audience.

In the first clip, Sierra Katow addresses the social issues that come with being an Asian American. While the crowd laughs at her jokes, her "truth" and deeper issues are addressed. She addresses substitutability within our American society when she claims, "I don't know, they are all yellow to me!" when she herself is Asian. This substitutability is entrenched in our country's history, yet she is making note that it is still current.

In the second clip, Dave Chappelle creates humor regarding social stereotypes regarding blacks. He addresses the few options that African Americans are given. Twenty-seven seconds into the clip Chappelle says:

                          You gotta focus. You gotta stop blaming white people for your
                          problems. You've gotta learn how to: rap or play basketball or
                          something nigga you're trapped. You are trapped. Either do that
                          or sell crack, those are your only options....go out there and be somebody!

The audience burst with laughter, but in this laughter they are acknowledging the truth of this statement. Humor is powerful. It can be used to address topics that politically are not "spoken" of, but are nonetheless true.

Often, people of color, Asian Americans, and women create jokes about issues that pertain to themselves. While people may laugh at the jokes, the goal of the comedian is to bring these issues to people's consciousness. Comedy is a tool used to comment on serious issues. It is unique in that average citizens are able to enjoy it and understand what the comedian is trying to communicate. Comedy isn't reserved to a strictly academic audience, but rather it is aimed at the average citizen. Comedy bridges the gap between the larger issues at hand and the average citizen. It creates awareness by addressing topics that are not spoken of.