Thursday, November 24, 2005

"When God gives you AIDS, make Lemon-AIDs!"

I saw Sarah Silverman's comedy concerte/musical film "Jesus is Magic" yesterday. It was pretty darn hilarious: much fun was had with religions, Mexicans, Asians, cripples, midgets, the elderly, porn stars, AIDS-sufferers, Jews and, of course, black folks. I laughed pretty much through the entire thing with no guilt or self-consciousness. Part of the reason for that was due to the fact that my fellow film goers were, to a one, youngish-to-middle-aged urbane white hipsters. Emphasis on WHITE. The whiteness of the audience, which I noticed before the movie started, was made even more obvious when the movie was over and we made our way to the exits. The theater we were in, a Landmark in downtown DC, was staffed, to a one, with young black people. I just imagined a few of the ushers standing in the back of the theater during the movie, watching all of us "liberal" honkies cackling at jokes laced with racial slurs. Now, I don't think that Silverman is racists, that her jokes are racist, or that I'm racist for thinking that they're funny. I endorse the explaination that Silverman's humor subverts stereotypes and cultural beliefs by taking them to their most absurd conclusion. However, I do think that the kind of taboo-breaking, stereotype defying humor that is Silverman's stock in trade can only really be enjoyed by white people. After all, the jokes are aimed at THEIR positions of privilidge, cluelessness and prejudice. What the hell kind of fun are black people, or Mexicans, or midgets going to get out of jokes about how they smell bad or are members of an inferior race? I just can't see it. I'm not saying that minorities can't understand the humor, but that they probably wouldn't get the same giddy, transgressive thrill that makes "liberal" white guys like me crack up. None of this means that I disapprove of the movie, or Silverman's act, or racial jokes in general. The experience of seeing "Jesus is Magic" brought me to one realization: it should carry a rating, in addition to it's well-earned "R": FWPO, For White People Only.

1 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

A White guy goes like this, but a Black guy goes like that! Gafaw,,,

That kind of garbage is not funny to whites or blacks! It is funny to stupid people. People wrapped up in self loathing and media bread guilt!

Blaming yourself for your race is like blaming yourself for your race! How idiotic is that?

Be proud of who you are no matter who you are...

You can never stop injustice by taking turns at being unjust

-L.E.Williams

Get back out there in the World and be the best darned YOU you can be and quit blaming yourself for things you had no part in or control over.
Take credit for the things you DO not for what someone else DID!

4:38 AM  

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