Unhindered: Comedians
Let's lighten things up today and talk about a unique group of people who challenge the status quo, culture, biases, and hegemony.
Don't be scared off! I'm talking about comedians!
You've probably already noticed that stand-up comics have the unique role of making us think and laugh. The really good comedians don't stand up on stage and say "poop poop poop" to make us laugh- they point out discrepancies in our ways of thinking.
They bring up social issues that are usually too painful to think about. They don't use politically correct language to pussyfoot around feelings- they make us face our differences, realize that people can act similar according to gender, race, class, and make us laugh at ourselves. There are great tragedies in being human; comedians help us laugh to balance out our crying.
Comedy is also a form of protest. We joke about politicians, celebrities, criminals; religion, comsumerism, welfare. All the good and funny comics are liberals mocking tradition and making us think about things we often ignore or take for granted. George Carlin pronounces that religion is the greatest bullshit story. Nick Swardson claims that old people will have no dignity when they listen to rap music. George Lopez talks about growing up in a Mexican-American family. Paula Poundstone finds amusement in her struggle with alcoholism.
So next time you watch a comedian, stand up and clap a little louder in thanks.
(I'm always adding comedy clips to this playlist: Stand Up)
Don't be scared off! I'm talking about comedians!
You've probably already noticed that stand-up comics have the unique role of making us think and laugh. The really good comedians don't stand up on stage and say "poop poop poop" to make us laugh- they point out discrepancies in our ways of thinking.
They bring up social issues that are usually too painful to think about. They don't use politically correct language to pussyfoot around feelings- they make us face our differences, realize that people can act similar according to gender, race, class, and make us laugh at ourselves. There are great tragedies in being human; comedians help us laugh to balance out our crying.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million people. We can't even deal with that. I think we think that if somebody kills someone, that's murder, you go to prison. You kill 10 people, you go to Texas, they hit you with a brick, that's what they do. 20 people, you go to a hospital, they look through a small window at you forever. And over that we can't deal with it. You know? Someone who's killed a hundred thousand people, we're almost going... "Well done! Well done! You killed a hundred thousand people? You must get up very early in the morning! I can't even get down to the gym! Your diary must look odd: 'Get up in the morning, death, death, death, death, death, death, lunch. Death, death, death, afternoon tea. Death, death, death, quick shower.' -Eddie Izzard, Dress to Kill
Comedy is also a form of protest. We joke about politicians, celebrities, criminals; religion, comsumerism, welfare. All the good and funny comics are liberals mocking tradition and making us think about things we often ignore or take for granted. George Carlin pronounces that religion is the greatest bullshit story. Nick Swardson claims that old people will have no dignity when they listen to rap music. George Lopez talks about growing up in a Mexican-American family. Paula Poundstone finds amusement in her struggle with alcoholism.
So next time you watch a comedian, stand up and clap a little louder in thanks.
(I'm always adding comedy clips to this playlist: Stand Up)
Labels: marie
posted by Marie at 5:51 PM
2 Comments:
One of the things I've wondered is why there seem to be so many more good male comedians than female ones. Off the top of my head, I can name several male comedians I like -- George Carlin, Dane Cook, Kevin James, Nick Swardson, etc. -- but I can't really think of any female ones.
There are very few career comedians, and it's true that there fewer comediennes. One of the biggest is Kathy Griffin, who has Bravo specials as well as her series My Life on the D-List. There's also Margaret Cho, who has several DVDs of her performances. Paula Poundstone is on NPR a lot, and I got to see her live in Santa Cruz. Some very funny women have been featured on Comedy Central Presents; my favorites are Elvira Kurt, Judy Gold, and Maria Bamford, and their half-hour TV specials can be downloaded on iTunes. Debra DiGiovanni cracked me up when she was on Last Comic Standing.
I think that more and more female comics are beginning to make it big. One of the newest and largest types of gigs are for women comedians on lesbian cruises, something that I know both Griffin and Cho have done (though neither of them are lesbians). It's particular niches like that in the stand-up job market that are going to allow more funny women to reach wider audiences and establish their fan bases.
And, of course, it is still largely a man's world. Gilda Radner and Jane Curtain were crack-ups on SNL back in the day, but their careers didn't take off like those of Steve Martin and Chevy Chase (a'course, they are funny too).
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