Jack Lewis wrote an article for The Diamondback about Hari Kondabolu (8/2/2017) that deserves some pixels here.
Political Comedians
Lewis makes a distinction between two types of political comedians:
He is a political comedian, but that label might do him a disservice. The term “political comedian” unfortunately often refers to white comedians who mistake controversy for activism. So when I call Kondabolu a political comedian, I don’t mean in the Bill Maher “I want to be able to say the N-word” sense, but in the Ta-Nehisi Coates New York Times Op-Ed on the N-word sense. He brings both a personal and an academic understanding of race to an art form that sorely needs it.
So the difference is between education and activism, versus trying to be humorous about controversies. We could call this activist and humorous, but that would repeat a distinction I’m trying hard to bridge. Lewis states later,
I hope political comedy can become about real activism. For too long, comedians have shrugged off the responsibility that comes with a microphone.
I couldn’t agree more; however, the common wisdom from folks like Caty Borum Chatoo is that the message kills the comedy.
Comic intent and punching down
Lewis also notes,
The culture of stand-up comedy has often rewarded jokes regardless of the damage they might do. The defense of so many racist jokes or accents has frequently been, “But it’s funny!” Kondabolu pushes back against this, pointing out earlier this year that “things can be funny and wrong. It’s not like those things are mutually exclusive. In fact, when things are racist and funny, they’re more dangerous. That’s how propaganda works.”
If we accept that the comic’s only respectable goal is the production of laughter, then the “But it’s funny!” line becomes a defense. Further, it debunks, as did Colin Quinn, the notion that comedy only punches up – it can and frequently does punch down, and that can get a laugh.
Further, Lewis notes that there is,
[A] pervasive idea in comedy: It isn’t the job of joke-tellers to address social problems…. [However,] Comedians do not merely comment on culture, they help define it.
Here Lewis alludes to Kenneth Burke’s notion of selections of reality becoming deflections of reality – even when they’re merely trying to reflect reality. What we see and enjoy shapes how we view the world – it is “equipment for living.” Similarly,
Kondabolu knows it is important to be critical of the things people love because they most inform our culture.
Summary
So, in Lewis’ view, comics have power and responsibility not just to talk about controversies, but to actively try to intervene; to define culture in a productive fashion. I couldn’t agree more. The problem is, how? And will we be allowed?
Questions? Comments? Thoughts? Additions?
