"Pastafarian", LOL!!! I like how the comedian uses humour to deconstruct stereotypes. But are you aware that he can do that only because he is part of a visible minority himself? I am wondering whether a WASP guy could do the same thing, for his position is very different from that of a member of a racialized group, who has the insight into how life is for an immigrant or a group culturally different from the mainstream society. Furthermore, he has the subaltern perspective, which gives him a different position - he has the right to make fun both of his own and other groups as well as the dominant one, similar as an African Canadian can say "nigga" and no other person can, without necessarily being offensive. This topic would certainly need more examination. Russell Peters reminds me much of a Turkish German comedian, Kaya Yanar. He also makes fun of national Stereotypes, imitating the different groupd of immigrants in German society, and he can do that, his being part of a "minority" giving him a different insight and a different status that allow him to make fun of other nationalities. I think the whole thing consists in the fact that it is more likely for a White member of dominant culture to be blamed of being a racist than for an oppressed minority which is likely to face racism itself.
Thank you for blogging on this topic. When reading your article and watching those clips I was quite torn on the inside. On the one hand, just as you described he makes jokes about various cultures and ethnicities including his own. Therefore it does not seem as if he wants to expose and bring into ridicule one particular culture. But on the other hand I wonder if he actually lives up to this in his programs and whether or not there might not actually be a lot of people feeling insulted and ridiculed at by him. You suggested that by his technique he might actually deconstruct stereotypes. This reminded me of the Brechtian “Epic Theatre” that tried and still tries to make people rethink their stereotypes and assumptions by the tool of alienation. Probably parts of his jokes might actually have the wished-for effect by making those stereotypes look absurd to the audience. But I think that some of the cultural practices might not be alienated enough to not make the audience think “That’s exactly how it is/ how I experienced it”. Thus, this would have the opposite effect in my opinion, namely a confirmation and hardening of cultural and ethnic stereotypes. For me it is a living on the edge which can be very successful and healing with regard to deconstructing stereotypes but which should never forget to carefully reflect on its message and its effects on the various ethnic and cultural groups.
"Pastafarian", LOL!!!
AntwortenLöschenI like how the comedian uses humour to deconstruct stereotypes. But are you aware that he can do that only because he is part of a visible minority himself? I am wondering whether a WASP guy could do the same thing, for his position is very different from that of a member of a racialized group, who has the insight into how life is for an immigrant or a group culturally different from the mainstream society. Furthermore, he has the subaltern perspective, which gives him a different position - he has the right to make fun both of his own and other groups as well as the dominant one, similar as an African Canadian can say "nigga" and no other person can, without necessarily being offensive. This topic would certainly need more examination.
Russell Peters reminds me much of a Turkish German comedian, Kaya Yanar. He also makes fun of national Stereotypes, imitating the different groupd of immigrants in German society, and he can do that, his being part of a "minority" giving him a different insight and a different status that allow him to make fun of other nationalities.
I think the whole thing consists in the fact that it is more likely for a White member of dominant culture to be blamed of being a racist than for an oppressed minority which is likely to face racism itself.
Thank you for blogging on this topic. When reading your article and watching those clips I was quite torn on the inside. On the one hand, just as you described he makes jokes about various cultures and ethnicities including his own. Therefore it does not seem as if he wants to expose and bring into ridicule one particular culture. But on the other hand I wonder if he actually lives up to this in his programs and whether or not there might not actually be a lot of people feeling insulted and ridiculed at by him. You suggested that by his technique he might actually deconstruct stereotypes. This reminded me of the Brechtian “Epic Theatre” that tried and still tries to make people rethink their stereotypes and assumptions by the tool of alienation. Probably parts of his jokes might actually have the wished-for effect by making those stereotypes look absurd to the audience. But I think that some of the cultural practices might not be alienated enough to not make the audience think “That’s exactly how it is/ how I experienced it”. Thus, this would have the opposite effect in my opinion, namely a confirmation and hardening of cultural and ethnic stereotypes. For me it is a living on the edge which can be very successful and healing with regard to deconstructing stereotypes but which should never forget to carefully reflect on its message and its effects on the various ethnic and cultural groups.
AntwortenLöschen