I'm having a hard time...
keeping certain things in perspective. We live in a time where if a white person makes a joke about a person of color it's automatically racism, yet if you watch any stand up comedy, famous comedians from different ethnic backgrounds or sexual preference base a large majority of their routines making fun of white people, and this is considered socially acceptable and not worth censoring or chastising. I can cite samples of this, but it's not necessary.
I don't pretend to understand what it's like growing up as a minority in this country, as I am about as mainstream majority as they come. Middle class white America, that's me. But trust me when I say I have found myself the butt of jokes for a large majority of my life. When I was a kid, I was incredibly small, skinny, awkward, and generally too smart for my peers, so I was the punching bag (both boys and girls). Now, I am a big guy - let's face it overly big, so the ridicule comes from the other end of the spectrum. But I simply developed a thick skin. I get humor. I don't think the majority of people tell jokes to put someone down, but simply because they want to make someone laugh. So for me, jokes are jokes are jokes. I like to laugh, and I get humor.
Enter the article found today on CNN.com which reports how Masterfoods, USA is pulling their newest Snickers commercial after a blow up by gay rights activists. The commercial features two mechanics who inadvertently end up kissing while eating a Snickers candy bar (they start at each end, a'la Lady and the Tramp and the spaghetti noodle). To recover their wits, one exclaims to the other to "do something manly"... It was one of the funniest commercials of the day, but the activists protested saying it promoted violence against the gay community.
Right.
I don't remember any furor over the first time this scene was played - in "Planes,Trains, and Automobiles".
Look, I truly understand and empathize with minority groups who have to fight for an equal place in our society, and I would never try to squash that drive. However, there is a difference between striving and paranoia. The commercial was funny. Just like the Bud Light commercial with the rock, paper, scissors. Should I complain that THAT commercial promotes violence at the backyard barbecue? Why not? There was actually a white dude smashing another guy in the face over a beer!
The politically correct among you can now speak out.
posted by Roger C. @ 2/06/2007 11:08:00 PM
8 Comments:
It amazes me how few people out there seem to have a sense of humor. Like you, I am often baffled by this kind of response. What really angers me about it, though, is that racism, homophobia, and other forms of hatred really do exist in our society. But by focusing on the really inane stuff like a very funny commercial, those that are supposed to stand up against hatred - in this case, GLADD - weaken their entire argument.
Political correctness has long been a source of contention. It's a good thing to think about other's feelings before you say something. It's a good thing to consider that words have power. But when it is taken to extremes, it becomes ridiculous. This article, I think, nicely sums up the problems we have today:
http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/004138.html#more
When a respected radio show can't even have an intelligent conversation about language because they can't say any of the words they are talking about, we have truly reached the extreme.
It never ceases to amaze me when people talk about the importance of the First Amendment and seem to understand the danger of censorship, and then turn around and scream anytime someone utters the word "nigger" or "faggot". Any reasonably intelligent adult should be able to figure out when these are being used as humor - as in the Snickers commercial - and when they are being used as hate speech. It'll be a great day in America when we can all just laugh at funny stuff, and spend our time worrying about real stuff.
Oh JTDC. Here's another.
"Suicide-prevention group criticizes GM ad"
http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/admeter/2007-02-08-super-suicide-usat_x.htm
How do I get off this planet?
Roger, I kind of understand where you're coming from, although I find it odd that, for such a thoughtful bloke, and all that’s going on in he world right now, this is an issue that’s causing you such consternation. I'll be the first to admit that I like a funny gay joke or Starr Jones fat joke as much as the next (straight, thin, white) guy. I'll also admit that there are small signs of what is called "political correctness." But for the most part the idea that political correctness is some out-of-control issue is really a bunch of conservative horseshit. In a country our size, you're going to come across these little nuggets all the time. That doesn't mean there's an epidemic of PC-ness going around.
Every time some special interest group comes out with some ridiculous protest or denunciation, conservative commentators make it into a huge issue, as if the PC police are taking over the country. It really has served them well over the years to help distract from the discussion of real issues. It's also an easy way to discredit the person(s) complaining as just being a sourpuss(es?). It also makes it easy to dismiss any minority group that has valid points by just saying, "Why don't they get over it?" or "Gee, get a sense of humor." It's a dishonest argument.
For the absurd extreme, see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16657357/
As far as white comedians poking fun of minority groups, I've seen plenty of white and non-white comics making fun of people of color, and gays as well. Anybody ever heard of Carlos Mencia? (who offends me personally, not because he's so "un-PC," but because he's such an unfunny, unoriginal hack who bases his entire act on "Hey, look how politically incorrect and controversial I am!" Or Sarah Silverman? (hotness), who does it brilliantly, because she's really making fun of stereotypes.
If you're part of a powerless group that's been historically oppressed (and been the butt of jokes), I'd say it's understandable to be a little touchy and prone to being easily offended. Also, in my humble opinion, that kind of humor is just plain lazy - I mean, it's easy to kick people when they're down (Katrina victim jokes anyone?). Why not poke fun at the people in power? Isn't that where the best comedy comes from anyway? (Aren't we all rooting for John Cusack to win the boat race/ski race instead of the rich snob?).
A parting thought:
Q: What do you call a lawyer who graduates at the bottom of his class?
A: A lawyer.
Thank you. Fags.
It's not that this is the major focus of any angst right now, it's just one of many problems that irks me enough to voice my opinion about it...
Well, as a gen-u-wine gay person, I feel fairly comfortable jumping in this conversation. Though I can't claim to speak for the entire gay community, which is quite diverse, both culturally and politically.
First, I have to preface this by admitting that I have not seen the ad. But based on the description, I think that I would have found the ad rather hilarious, to say the least.
But, on the other side of the coin, the ad suggests a few things that do perpetuate some dangerous assumptions: 1) There's something wrong with being gay. 2) Kissing another man makes you gay. 3) A straight man can become gay if seduced.
Now, I know that these notions may (and should) sound ridiculous, but there are many people, due to ignorance, who believe this. And it is these very beliefs -- frequently combined with Old Testament dogma -- that fuel discrimination and violence.
Brilliant comedy is a very difficult thing to do well. Much of it relies on parody, stereotypes, people's fears and insecurities. There's a fine line to walk before crossing over into insult and offense.
I'll have to hand it to the advertisers: they know their audience. The ad was perfectly targeted to the NFL crowd, who no doubt found it a hoot. But I doubt the same ad would be appropriate for, say, "Project Runway."
Regarding GLAAD's response, they were just doing their job. It is their purpose to protest discrimination against and defamation of gay and lesbian people, no matter how small the incident. The public (and sometimes the courts) sort things out after the fact. This may seem like a minor incident ("It was just a joke!") but these things tend to have a snowball effect.
Is this an overreaction? Perhaps. Are things better than they used to be? Definitely. I recommend that anyone interested in the subject rent the film "The Celluloid Closet," a brilliant documentary on the history of the portrayal of gay and lesbian people by hollywood.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112651/
And as for those in the gay community who found it offensive? They had reason, yes. But I'm sure more than a few found it a little titillating as well...if only for a moment.
I feel compelled to add my agreement...I, too, think "hotness" when I see Sarah Silverman.
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
While I didn't see the entire ad, and probably never will now thanks to some over-ractions, I've read descriptions of the spot in articles about it being pulled.
I don't think the ad perpetuates the assumption that there's something wrong with being gay. Rather, it's that, to the general heterosexual male there's something wrong with his buddy(ies) thinking he's gay. Maybe either of them have friends who are gay, which is not mentioned in the ad. Regardless, both men do not want the other to think they are gay, since they are not, and to them, in that moment, that is of utmost importance. Their (over)reactions are funny. It has absolutely nothing to do with anyone actually being gay.
It's important to consider how certain people will feel about something, but in general, stereotypes are often very funny.
We have to stop allowing the narrow-minded to control every little thing.
Here's some interesting exchanges on the subject on the Craigslist Queer Forum:
http://forums.sacramento.craigslist.org/?ID=57554318
http://forums.sacramento.craigslist.org/?ID=57458750
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