Stereotypes & Comedy

When watching Ralphie May the other day in class, May made a joke about how he had gone to a black theater and watched a black movie. An experience he says that every white person should do at least once. Now before he even began to develop the story into a joke, I knew where it was going. OF COURSE at some point he was going to talk about how blacks cant help themselves when it comes to talking during the movie. Other than blacks talk during movies, lets look at some other classical stereotypes shall we?

- Asians are good at math. They love math. Asians would prefer to do calculus instead of Heidi Klum. They also are really cliquey. Whenever I'm walking through the quad with my group of all-white fraternity brothers we always remark how cliquey they are.

- Whites, well, we can't dance. We have no rythm. We only know how grind on one another. If Im asked to dance, I immediately follow white people procedure and assume position #1: Stripper Pole. I maintiain this position throughout the "dance". The white girl then shakes her "back" on me and everyonce in awhile is so nice to actually turn toward me...just to make sure that she is still with a person and not a piece of metal. If not performed on a dance floor,
"white people dance" would be mistaken for drunken rape. Also, no matter how sexual the dance gets, if the white girl starts to feel anything getting aroused from you "down there" she will slap you and call you a pervert. I don't dance much.

- Mexicans are laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy. They work hard as hell and the illegal ones work incredibly hard hours in the orange fields for next to nothing so they can support a family of five. We don't care. Mexicans will always be the lazy ones. And whats with the 3 hour lunch and nap during the middle of the day?! Scarf it and Barf it like a real man.

- Indians (not native americans) are either doctors, cab drivers, or convenience store clerks. I think the guy I call for IT support is also Indian...hmmm, he must also be a heart surgeon when not explaining to me why I can't access my damn banner account for the third time in two days. Indians do work hard, but not as hard as the lazy mexicans.

- Native Americans are alcoholics...but there's nothing funny about that.

- Jews are cheap. How was copper wire invented? Two jewish kids fighting over a penny. Nuff said.

Now when May's performance was over, we sort of discussed whether the stereotype of blacks talking throughout a movie could be seen as offensive. The thing is, I believe that some stereotypes have become so engraved in American culture that we just accept them in the world of comedy. But within the world of comedy, I believe these stereotypes are not offensive. We all know that black people talk during movies. Even black people joke about that. Any race can joke about how white people can't dance...we wont be offended. But in the real world we all know that not all mexicans, or others of hispanic descent, are lazy. We know that not all Indians are doctors and not all jews are cheap, especially the ones that rule the zionist media. But in the world of comedy, I think that overall, american audiences have accepted these stereotypes as truths. As long as they do so at the Funny Bone, and not once they get back to their car in the parking lot, then there is no hurt done to anyone.
Accepting the stereotypes enhances the comedy value and makes it easier for us to understand the comedy. The world, as has been told to this communication major, is understood through stories. These stereotypes help develop the comedic narrative so that we have some understanding as to where the joke is going

"Oh, he's at a black movie theater where a black movie is playing. I bet the audience will be talking throughout the film. lets see what he has to say."


"hahaha, he has to call up IT support. I bet the IT guy will be Indian."

"Hahaha....he has to drive through a native american reserva....oh this wont be funny"


Comedy wouldnt be funny if there wasn't at least some truth that rings true to the audience within the joke. And I say SOME truth because thats what stereotypes are: SOME truth. Understood within the context of humor, I think that stereotypes are relatively harmless and can greatly aid a comedian in telling his/her story and greatly aids the audience in understanding the story.

Well Im going to get back to starching my khaki pants before I head out to starbucks where I'll read the J. Crew catalogue for the next five hours. Peace.