By: Rafeeat Bishi
The video on the Apu character from The Simpsons prompted some thinking. Hari Kondabolu made very good points as to why certain humor can not be brushed off as "jokes"
Today, people are becoming more comfortable with speaking out against offensive comments. However, when most marginalized groups bring this up, they're seen as easily offended and sensitive. I don't think it's "sensitive" to not appreciate rude comments.
It wasn't funny when Kevin Hart said he'd beat his child for being gay. What's funny about child abuse? His homophobia is the butt of the joke, and there's nothing funny about hating a group of people for existing. Kondabolu made me think a lot about satire. By definition, satire is "the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues".
The show Boondocks is the perfect example. When Riley makes homophobic jokes or Uncle Ruckus makes completely racist comments, it's seen as funny and humorous because of how outrageous they are. They, like many other characters in the show, represent exaggerated versions of the black community. Riley is the impressionable, homophobic, toxic masculinity black male, and Uncle Ruckus is the self-hating black male. They're offense is the essence of their characters, which is why most gay people would not have problems with Riley's jokes. They're not the butt of the joke. He is.
IF Apu's character was written to ridicule those who make outrageous assumptions about South Asian people, or to criticise the system that makes it harder for brown immigrants to achieve success, then it would be satire. But we don't. Apu is a character we only see through the eyes of the Simpsons, and they are not once criticised for their own biases. He's not given depth, or dimension. He stands there for comedy, not to offer South Asians good representation. There's even more issues in the fact that a white actor voiced him. How would he know Apu's experience? Like that man said in the video (which Kondabolu made a good point shooting down) Comedy is supposed to stem from conflict. What's funny about the conflict of Apu's situation? The fact that there's a chance he'll stay at that store to support his family for the rest of his life? That's not biting satire or humor. Its bullying.
The next time someone ridicules a culture or makes jokes about lifestyles, I hope one considers the nuances of what they're saying. Be wary of the groups affected by your "jokes".
I like how you distinguished the difference between satire and actual offensive "humor." When you said that the main difference is whether the character or the offensive joke itself is the target of the comedy, it really made the line a lot less blurred to me. I've seen Boondocks and I now understand that the tropes of the characters themselves are made fun of, not the things they are actually saying. This was really insightful. Go off.
ReplyDeleteYeah a lot of people don't know about satire. I've seen a lot of "alpha black males" say they love the Boondocks cause Riley is cool and they can relate to him. What they don't realize is that they're being laughed at.
DeleteThere is a big difference between joking around and being offensive. In this case, the racist jokes people find funny or try to slide in and argue that it was "just a joke". Clearly it wasn't, people face many insecurities, discriminations, etc by the joke they make. The built in stereotypes made by society.
ReplyDeleteYes! They are built in stereotypes and continuing to make those jokes further fuels them. Joking around isn't joking around if its not funny. And the subject and context of the joke matters. You made a good point. I think racist people like to say offensive comments and call it a joke so they can get away with it.
DeleteI liked this post a lot. I think you made good points as to how Apu's life isn't very comedic at all and to make that and his accent the reason why his character is funny is bullying and not a joke. It really says a lot about society today and how people who have never been in a situation or the shoes of someone that struggles will assume that they are allowed to make jokes about serious things and not realize who they are affecting.
ReplyDeleteYou clarified what I was thinking so thanks :). In my opinion if you're not in the shoes of someone or a similar situation, it's really not up to you to make jokes about them. Certain topics are too serious and simply not funny, so idk why people try to find humor in them all the time.
DeleteI very much agree with that comedy involving race is best appropriately used towards mocking hatred and racism, and that the next time an offensive joke is made, consider anyone you know of the people you're mocking on how they would feel, because they likely wouldn't like it.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I think that satire is necessary and it can be a source of comic relief. But just plain offensiveness towards serious topics isn't funny and people should be more aware.
DeleteThis reminds me of the post I made about Michael Scott from the Office. He makes incredibly racist, sexist, and homophobic comments/jokes. However, it's okay because the whole point of The Office is that it's satire. The show is making fun of Michael's stupidity.
ReplyDelete