Racial
1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of race or races.
2. Arising from or based on differences among human racial groups
Racist
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
When discussing race in comedy it is important to make a distinction between racial humor and racist humor.
Racial humor draws attention to the peculiarities or idiosyncrasies of a particular group. It is often directed at the comedian’s own race. (Of course qualities associated with a race may actually be a result of culture or class and not be genetic in nature.)
Racist humor is meant to be derogatory and insulting to members of the targeted race and implies the superiority of another race (though in theory one could equally insulting to all races.) Racist humor is usually directed at a race other than the comedian’s.
Problems can occur when one is attempting racial humor but is inadvertently perceived as racist, either through incompetence or misunderstanding by the audience.
The distinction can often be difficult. When does racial become racist? Where is the line between poking fun and insulting? Or more directly- why can minorities make fun of whites, but whites can’t make fun of minorities? The answer relates to the very basic nature of comedy- pain.
Laughter is the body’s response to the threat of pain followed by the realization that the pain isn’t going to happen or isn’t real. Seeing others in pain, whether physical or emotional, is funny as long as the pain is not so great or so real as to cause us to feel pain as well. Watching someone get hurt in a movie or cartoon is funny because we know the pain isn’t real. Finding the level of pain that is safe is the key to comedy.
Humor aimed at minorities by whites might, therefore, be too painful to be funny. It reminds us of real pain suffered by those who are or have been oppressed. It quite literally adds insult to injury. Humor aimed at whites by minorities, however, just does not have the same capacity to wound. Whites as a group have not been oppressed. Minority comedians can thus get away with more, but even then if the humor becomes too mean spirited they may lose the audience.
The skill, charm, and intent of an individual comedian can also mitigate the level of pain. Don Rickles gets away with a lot because people like him and it’s clear he doesn’t really mean it. Another comedian might tell the exact same jokes and find themselves in a lot of trouble.
And of course members of any group can usually insult their own group with impunity. Attacks from within are not as painful as attacks from without.
Canadians and the French are fair game. Downright rude remarks against French Canadians are actively encouraged.
posted by Dominic @ 11:53 AM
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