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As a special topic, this week will look at the fine line between racism and ‘humour’. British film and television has long been a site for views of the other. Originally, these were represented by white actors and comedians whose interpretations of ethnic minority life were often perceived as insulting and patronising. More recently, British filmmakers, actors and comedians have introduced a new genre to the British cultural sphere, one that takes a playful look at minority ethnic communities from their own perspective. It has been suggested that these representation are non-racist because they come from those potentially affected by racism themselves. In light of the recent furore surrounding the Borat film by Sascha Baron Cohen and other examples, this session asks what counts as humour and what is merely racist. We will be examining this question through the use of clips from different films and television shows as well as classic jokes. We will be relying mainly on clips of various films and TV shows to be shown in the lecture.
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Race & Race & HumouHumourr
Race: Conflict & ChangeWeek 9
Today we will Today we will ask…ask…
•When - if ever - is humour offensive?
•What is aggressive humour and who is allowed to tell it?
•How has what we find funny changed over time and why?
•Can humour be used to overturn stereotypes and challenge power?
•Can laughter overcome racism?
Priest: When will you give up those silly dietary laws?Rabbi: At your wedding
father.
What is What is humour?humour?
“The passion of laughter is nothing else but a sudden glory arising from some sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmities of others, or with our own formerly.”
Thomas Hobbes
Beyond a Beyond a Joke?Joke?
“How do we negotiate the perilous terrain between humour and offensiveness, or free speech and cultural respect, in a pluralist society?”
Lockyer & Pickering
Aggressive Aggressive humourhumour
Characteristics of Characteristics of aggressive humouraggressive humour
1. Conflictual2. Uses satire,
sarcasm, parody…
Characteristics of Characteristics of aggressive humour aggressive humour 33
3. Stereotypical and caricatural
Stereotypes & Stereotypes & caricaturecaricature
“Humour based on stereotype, the nastiest cut, can emasculate, enfeeble, and turn victims into scapegoats.”
Boskin & Dorinson
Antisemitic Antisemitic PropagandaPropaganda
SimianisSimianisationation
The The Cartoon Cartoon ControvControversyersy
Consequences of Consequences of aggressive aggressive
humour humour
BlackfaceBlackface
Show Time: Show Time: BlackfaceBlackface & Minstrelsy& MinstrelsyWhites: • Blacks as lazy, stupid
yet loveable. • As the anti-self.Blacks:• Humour of
accommodation• Self-caricature and
survival
The Black & White The Black & White Minstrel ShowMinstrel Show
BBC 1957 - 1978
Ali G: the new Ali G: the new blackface?blackface?
• Who is Ali G?• Is this racist
stereotyping?• … or self-
deprecation?• Is Ali G self-
serving?• Does common
oppression override particular experience?
Reclaiming Reclaiming humourhumour• The shoe on the
other foot.• 2 forms of self-
deprecation.• The humourist as
licensed spokesperson.
• Beating them at their own game?
1. Richard 1. Richard PryorPryor
2. Goodness 2. Goodness Gracious MeGracious Me
3. Little Miss 3. Little Miss JocelynJocelyn
4 Asian US-4 Asian US-AmericansAmericans
5. Subverting 5. Subverting race & sexualityrace & sexuality
6. Inder Manocha6. Inder Manocha
Thank you.Thank you.
I hope you I hope you enjoyed the enjoyed the
coursecourse
Have a good Have a good break and a break and a
happy new year!happy new year!
