GWSS 3306: Popular Culture Women

With regard to how women use comedy to either subvert and / or redefine norms and whether comedy is a useful tool . . . ? Yes, women like men have their own unique perspective when it comes to humor. A lot of comedy, whether delivered by a man or a woman is a shared experience by everyone. If you're going to a comedy club to be entertained I doubt that people care if the line up includes a woman or two. I'm guessing it doesn't generally matter as long as that person can make you laugh.
I think comedy is an equalizer. Women comedy performers and women writers are less sexualized, more attended to for their talent. Making people laugh is a good way to get peoples attention too. Women comedians can say something that is politically charged or scandalous without ruffling too many feathers as long as they are making people laugh. They may even get the message that is being conveyed through the joke.

I chose, Leslie Ball as my favorite woman comedian. I wouldn't say she is my favorite, however I do admire what she has done for the Twin Cities performing community for the last 13 years. She herself is a musician and comedian. She started, "Balls Cabaret", or "Balls" some 13 years ago to support the community of artists by giving them a venue (The Southern Theater every Saturday at midnight) to perform their art, whatever that maybe. She's known for her generousity.
She said during an interview in the St. Paul Pioneer Press that "Balls" is, "For artists of any and all disciplines to do whatever they want for five to seven minuets. Nothing is screened or censored." In the same interview she also said, "It's one thing to have success in business, but another to change the way business is done."

Posted by Ardis Houle at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My favorite comedians mostly come from some time ago. For instance, Lucille Ball, Betty white, Carol Burnett, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtain. These women are the ones that have my sides nearly split. These women were mostly popular in the late 60's early 70's when womens rights was in light. It was when comedy for women was so important (still is). what they all do is take the roles women are 'supposed to assume' and make light of it. Female comedians defy taboos and approach circumstances and jokes from such different angles then men, and for me are terribly effective.

Posted by Kelsey Kehrberg at 9:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I believe Margaret Cho is a comedian who has used humor to redefine norms. She has spoken out about being a bisexual woman, and she tends to speak out against sexism and the unjustness that women face in our culture in her standup. She's talked about how women have such negative self images because of mainstream media and her own personal experiences with her struggles with her weight.

Comedy can also be a useful tool when norms are criticized through satire. It's a way to point out specific ways that the expectance of cultural norms can be harmful, and the response of laughter and good feelings drives the point home very effectively.

Posted by JC at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Using comedy is often used to help people confront, sometimes strong, emotional or social issues in a lighter way. Confronting issues through comedy is effective because it is non-threatening. People don't feel threatened or attacked by comedy because it isn't necessarily above them. The less threatening way of approching things is easier for people to accept because a lot of time they don't feel like they're actually addressing an issue. Women use comedy to address issues that concern them. They talk about gender roles, social stereotypes and other things that affect them every day. This works because it gets people to THINK. They start out hearing something funny and laughing, later when the joke is done people have time to actually think about the real issue behind the joke. My favorite comedienne is Ellen DeGeneres. She has such a fun personality and an interesting way of looking at things. She responds to people who critisize her with jokes, she isn't afraid to come out and be who she is. She isn't afraid of her own orientation and she isn't afraid to be different.

Posted by Meagan Sogge at 4:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Women have used comedy to redefine norms simply by being comedians. Traditionally when you think about comedians, you think men. When society placed women in a submissive role, being the center of attention was culturally unacceptable. Even today, it is easier to accept a male comedian than a woman comedian.

Females are refining norms through comedy because they are becoming the center of attention with humor. If a women can make people laugh, general audiences will have a difficult time viewing them as feminine. The female comedian will be viewed as blunt and aggressive. Women like Rosie O’Donnell, Roseanne Arnold, Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Molly Shannon, Joan Rivers are some examples of these women.

Today women in comedy should admire women like Ellen Degeneres. I thought she was hilarious even back in her original sitcom. Through her ordeal with coming out and her coming back days, she remained true to herself. I think she is beautiful, smart, funny, and genuine.

Posted by Jennifer Loftus at 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Comedy

Using comedy helps further knowledge about issues that may not be hard for people to relate to. People may have a hard time to relate to these issues because they are unknown to them or because they are taboo.

Presenting unknown issues through comedy is effective because it is non-threatening. People do not feel intimidated or belittled by a comedian or comedienne because what they do is non-intellectual (in the traditional sense of the word). This makes people more receptive and willing to listen and learn because they don’t feel as if they are being lectured or preached to; they are being addressed by people who are just like them.

When dealing with taboo issues, comedy is useful because of the same things that was mentioned above and because veiling taboos in comedy will make people listen. When in jest, almost anything can be said; including things that people don’t want to deal with but most certainly have to. A relevant example of this is women’s rights. When women criticize their positions and (lack of) rights in society in a way that is considered threatening and demanding, chances are that people (men, authority) will be defensive; after all, they feel attacked. However, if issues are addressed hidden with a hint of sarcasm or irony people will suddenly listen, laugh… then think. After thinking they are enlightened.

It is of course quite sad that one of the few ways to be heard is by veiling issues in comedy but it is at least an option, and an effective one at that.

The atmosphere which humor and comedy brings about is helpful in subversion. While it is okay to laugh, thinking about the issues, which have just been presented, is inevitable.

My favorite comedienne is Ellen DeGeneres, no doubt. It isn’t just the way that she has represented homosexuality and the issues attached to it but it’s just her whole way of thinking. Sometimes when things are bad and hopeless, most people just shut down and will let anything go to them but Ellen approaches things, even negative ones, with a smile. She has been known to respond to criticism with jokes and even joked about sensitive issues like terrorism. She stands for the mindset “when there’s nothing else you can do, just laugh.� It certainly beats stressing about things.

Posted by Karla Noreen Navera at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The plight of the female comedienne is nothing to laugh about. They face perhaps the most absurd form of sexism due to the inherently crude nature of the stand-up scene, and the fact that comedy has ALWAYS been seen as a man's realm. Women tend to struggle in the stand-up comedy field because the general comedy audience tends to be male dominated, in the 18 to 40 year age range, meaning that the topics that will get the most laughs lack refinement and tact, and are typically targeted towards non-white races and, of course, women. How can a woman tackle that and come out on top?
Well, what successful comediennes have learned is that they cannot, by any means, play nice. And why would they, when they have so much going against them? Comediennes use the adversity that they face as fuel in their acts, and spit out their observations on the ridiculous and the unacceptable in the unrefined, no holds barred kind of way that their male audiences respond to. Comediennes redefine what it is to be a woman every time they take the stage, as they are unafraid to hold their tongue like a good girl should.
Whats unfortunate though, is that a lot of the time, their male audiences don't want to hear what they have to say. While there is no doubt that women ARE funny, I think that because of the fact that there is always truth in jest, and truth can make people uncomfortable, men are reluctant to laugh at these women. Because their jokes don't make men feel like the big strong powerful creatures that they like to see themselves as. Also, I think that these male audiences don't get what they expect when they watch a female comic; men can watch men and laugh because they don't expect to be turned on, and they see the comedian as a brother, or like one of their drinking buddies. But when they go to see a woman, perhaps they expect sexy, cute, and pretty, when the truth of the matter is that comedy isn't cute or endearing. The best comedy makes acute observations about society and our surroundings, and makes fun of it, tears it apart so that we can see just how outrageous it is.
So in that respect, comedy is a useful tool for women, because it is an outlet for the disappointed feelings that we have about certain situations, and, when the punch line is delivered correctly, it can be related to and understood rather than disregarded, as a lot of our "bitching" tends to be handled.
I feel like one of the comediennes that handles her material well is Janeane Garofalo, because to me, she has an accessible sense of humor. Her comic personality is worn down and cynical, she always seems a little disheveled, and I think that most people can relate to her in that sense, because everyone can understand that life is hard, no one is perfect, and at one point or another, everyone can get cynical and self-deprecating. I think thats a lot of the reason she is a successful comedienne-- because her humor is for anyone, not just women, which is important in an industry completely dominated by men.

Posted by Amanda Del Rosario at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I like Rita Rudner because she uses comedy to make fun of gender roles. She has her own stand up performance; she writes books; and appears in TV shows. Comedy can be useful, but sometimes if it is not explicit or is too ambiguous, it can taken the wrong way and actually affirm the existing norms. Women have been marginalized in comedy and it devalues their humor. Women are playing an important role by violating norms, new perspectives are created. Females can be seen as creative and independent. Comedy also allows women to share their experiences, values, and forms of resistance.

Posted by Nicole Henneman at 7:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Women have used comedy to talk about social issues that are important to them, to their lives and that aren’t usually bought up in the media or are negatively portrayed in the media. Mean girls was a perfect example. Another example would be Mo’Nique who often jokes about “plus sized� women and how the media portrays them. She wrote and stared in a movie called Phat Girls which was a comedy about bigger sized women and relationship issues. In this film, the main character, played by Mo’Nique, isn’t able to fully trust a guy she is dating because she is insecure about her weight and does not believe such a man could really be interested in her. Mo’Nique, herself is opposite this character. She is very comfortable with her weight and it shows. She often jokes about skinny women saying that models look sick but on a more serious note she discusses the importance of women being comfortable with who they are and with their bodies. I believe comedy can be used as a tool for both coping and for discussing issues not usually discussed. If you have ever heard the phrase, just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down; I think this describes comedy that is used to discuss issues like racism or sexism, or any issue in general that make people uncomfortable to hear or talk about. I think Whoopi Goldberg is my favorite female comedian because of how she used comedy to overcome many obstacles in life and it has allowed her to break many barriers. Whoopi’s comedy would be an example of comedy as a tool for coping. She was born into a situation where most would have felt there was no hope of a future for her, she dropped out of school at a very early age and yet she was the first female and African-American to host the Academy Awards. Also, at the time she won she was the first African American female to win best supporting actress in over 50 years. Her story is an awesome story and her comedy has allowed her to overcome.

Posted by Alicia Sims at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This blog was extremely interesting for me. When asked who my favorite woman comedian is, or what women have done for the comedy world--it took me awhile to think about what this actually means to me. When I thought about the comedians I tended to listen to the most, a majority of them were men. Not because I really hate women comedians, but because they are the most available it seems like. So, I did some research. I tried looking up female comedians on all different websites, sources, etc.; and the results became more and more difficult to come by. When you would look up simply "female comedians' most headings that popped up were about men comedians, and their skits about women. It became more and more frustrating for me to continue my search, until I remembered the most influential women in comedy that have been in my life.

Continue reading "Women in Comedy" »

Posted by Carly Anderson at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In terms of women and their use of comedy to subvert and/or redefine norms I chose to focus on women who did this through the media they were involved with. Traditionally it seemed that women were supposed to be seen and not heard and they certainly weren't invited to join in the conversation or to be the center of attention as the funny girl with something interesting and witty to say. Women in the media have done a good job of repositioning themselves and women in general to demonstrate more power as people and as a functioning part of society. For example the females of the show Friends did an excellent job of redefining and subverting the norms of quiet, proper, shy women by playing characters that had a purpose, and that knew who they were and how to use their life experiences to their advantage and to teach the audiences that everyone faces the same day to day problems and issues and that its ok to laugh at it all. The women of Friends didn’t let the presence of 3 male figures on the show change who they were as people and what was going on. The dynamic between the Friends characters was good because it showed all of them getting along and hanging out, "being funny" and talking about their lives and what happened to them.
Another example of "funny women" in the media that help to redefine the norms for women are television talk show hosts that were known first as comedians and then as television personalities. I think that both Ellen Degeneres and Megan Mullaly do a good job (even if their shows aren’t the greatest) of making it a normal thing for women to talk and hang out and let everyone see them being themselves and having fun being funny.
Comedy can be a useful tool for men and women, because it allows them (whether as a character or as themselves) to show that they have a sense of humor and that not everything has to be serious. People who aren't in the media know that there needs to be a balance between seriousness and light heartedness, and the fact that celebrities and people in the media are willing to show that to us makes them vulnerable and helps us to see them as "more like us".

Posted by Brianna Green at 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Female comedians are important because, at least in my experience of viewing comedy, the medium has been dominated by males. Given the nature of much of comedy, it often deals with topics that make people uncomfortable, such as sexuality, race, class, politics, and religion. Unfortunately, this male-dominance has led to a lot of negativity towards women. Comedy has a tendency to reinforce stereotypes and gender roles, as is seen by the classic "Women do this.... men do this...." sort of set up. While it's obviously hyperbole, it has been understood that there was a grain of truth behind these rigid binaries of male/female behavior.

What female comedians do is break down these binaries. Women comedians will often talk about sexuality, something that women aren't "supposed" to do. Take Margaret Cho, for example. She often talks about her sexual experiences, both with men and women. Not only is that blowing away the concept of the chaste female, but she is also subverting the gay/straight binary as well.

Comedy isn't just important in terms of women's sexuality, however. Comedy can be used to "soften" the message of feminism. Feminism has long been seen to be this stodgy, very serious way of thinking; academic and angry. Women can and do use feminism to bring out the irony in gender roles, to poke fun at the patriarchy. They make it possible to learn and to laugh, which makes feminism a lot easier for the masses to swallow.

While Ellen DeGeneres may not focus her comedy on feminism or women's issues, her personal life, and her "coming out" episode have had a tremendous impact on the media and culture, with respect to the way it views woman and sexual orientation. I believe that Ellen's coming out has empowered more women to be open about their sexuality, whether it be gay, straight, bisexual, or whatever. Ellen DeGeneres made it okay for women to be themselves, and to be funny.

Posted by Melissa Green at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Some time ago, I watched a special about Saturday Night Live. In it, the female comics complained that they had to fight for every minute they were included in the skits (and more often than not they were excluded altogether). Part of the reason was because some of the men complained that "women weren't funny", and many of the SNL women had contemplated giving up the show because the attitude was so prevalent.

Then I remembered Gilda Radner, who could crack me up just by looking into the camera. Her character, Rosanna Rosannadanna, was her comic best. Gilda was so over the top it was amazing that she could keep a straight face. She was always so high voltage, literally throwing herself around for a laugh. It was rumored that she actually broke her arm slamming against a door but she continued with the skit, playing right through the pain.

Although she was gifted, Gilda also recognized talent. She was responsible for bringing John Belushi to Saturday Night Live who added another dimension to the show. Unfortunately, both stars' careers were over much too soon. John Belushi died of a drug overdose in 1982 and Gilda died of ovarian cancer in 1989.

Sometimes I miss Gilda Radner, especially when I catch myself quoting one of her most famous lines: "It's always something!"

Posted by Ruth Dickson at 8:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Women have used comedy to subvert and redefine norms in a predominantly male arena by using politics, gender, and racism as the basis for their routines. Comedy is a source for women to relay issues that are very important to them to an audience that may or may not agree with them; women may be serious with their routines but those that do not agree may see it as funny. Comedy can also be used by women to relay issues that are difficult to talk about or issues that have no other platform to be heard. Women in comedy are finally being heard and that alone has certain norms being subverted and redefined.
Comedy is a useful tool for women because it enables them to discuss issues and have their viewpoints heard by the public more than any other media source. Many platforms in which women could have their voices heard are dominated by men and are, therefore, ‘brushed under the rug’ by the overbearing man. Comedy is a field in which everyone is heard equally; women can gain great lengths through the comedy arena.
My favorite female comedian is Ellen Degeneres. She subverts and redefines norms not only because she is a lesbian, comedic woman in the public sphere. I think it is great that she uses her place as one of the funniest people in America to make her voice be heard in today’s society.

Posted by Molly Wickersham at 7:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Female comedians are becoming more and more prominent in pop culture, especially when they are invited to host huge events that many people watch at home (for example, Ellen Degeneres hosted the 2007 Oscars last month). Women have used comedy to redefine the female gender role, create acceptance for women in a variety of positions, and to establish our position as first class citizens in America. I think it is a useful tool for women, because it can be used to accomplish what plain conversation cannot. It allows people to feel comfortable about discussing difficult issues related to gender, because it allows women to state their opinions without being perceived as confrontational. It also enables women to build a case for themselves within the context of humor that the other party to the discussion will remember. Funny things stick in people's minds, so it's a great way to make a point and make it stick. Whether or not the other party agrees with your opinion, they will remember what you've said simply because it made them laugh. My favorite female comedian is Ellen Degeneres, hands down.

Posted by kaylen_culotta at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lucille ball was my first favorite comedian. I've liked her since I was a kid, and I never thought of her as a radical person back then, she was just funny to me. I think she poked fun of how women were supposed to act in that time period and she probably believed that the whole house wife way of living was a little ridiculous.

Women can use comedy just the same as men,but it seems to be the same thing as women in sports or women in anything that a man is supposed to be good at. If we're too good they feel threatened. There is no reason for this. For once they should just let us be good at something, and not try and knock us down to " Female Comedians" why not a comedian that happens to be female?

I enjoy the type of comedy that makes fun of political happenings, and relations between each other.
My favorite comedian at the moment is Margaret Cho. Her delivery and routines are spotless. She's doing a lot to further gay rights, and political issues.

I think it's important to use comedy as a way to change things, people enjoy a good laugh, and it catches their attention to have an opinion about what's going on.

Posted by Margaret Hanson at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Comedy the use of humor to provoke laughter, relieves tension. Female comedians are on the rise. They are not only funny, but their comical statements and overall performance provided positive messages appealing to most women. My all time favorite female comedian, her unique blend of comedy and outspoken honesty Wanda Sykes has two of her own television shows 'Wanda at Large' and 'Wanda Does It.' Althought she rarely holds any main star roles, she is an excellent co-star. At the age of 35 she won an Emmy, and in 2001 she won the American Comedy Award for funniest female stand-up comedian. She is a proud and active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Soroity Inc. Wanda along with other greats like Whoopi Goldberg, Monique, Sommore and Adele Givens are paving the way for upcoming black female comedians.

Posted by Diamond Smith at 3:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was also in the group that did the presentation about the Guerrilla Girls last week. I think groups like this do a great job presenting important material to people in a comedic fashion. There are so many important issues today that are not discussed enough. I think using humor is a good way in talking about subjects that might not be the topic at the dinner table.
It seems like comedy was once a male dominated trait but today more and more women are using comedy in their work. For example, Tina Fey, who worked on Mean Girls. That movie sent out a lot of messages about the horrors of high school. There were a lot of important issues discussed in the movie, yet they were discussed in a light manner where it was funny and yet you got the message.

Posted by Jennifer Matthews at 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Over time many women have used comedy and their poinient sense of humor to get their foot in the door in a typically male dominated realm. Women like Lisa Lameneli, Kathy Griffin, Jeanne Girafalo all mock themselves and different female characters to try to relate to their audiences. They make jokes about women that others can either identify with or identify with a female that they know personally. It make compromise their "schtiks" being always known as the female comedian who makes fun of other women and themselves. This does not set a good example for those aspiring to succeed in this industry if they are always expected to tell a certain type of joke.
On television many female characters mock being a woman by fulfilling typical stereotypes for cheap laughs. For example characters who are vain or helpless. It is not often that you find independent women characters in comedy television who doesn't have her hangups and odd quirks. The newly popularized Sarah Silverman Show is an amazing example of a female comedian mocking herself as an airhead in a mock reality television show. This is the commonly accepted practice. This is not a useful tool if is it not being used the advantage of females to break norms. Rather many are reasserting them.There are a few famous women comedians who have avoided being notorious for not taking themselves seriously as women. Ellen Degeneres has built her comedy career based off of genuine humor that doesn't stoop to just mocking the activities of women but rather empowering them as individuals. In her comedy she tries to identify with male and female audience as people and not as their gender.

With so many women being counter-productive in the comedy industry, is the situation something like one step forward, two steps back? Or is the real question, what is all of this compromising for the next generation of female comedians and comedy actresses.

I personally do not have a favorite female comedian because I like comedy that doesn't discuss human nature but rather popular culture, politics, and society. I find that not many cover issues as such. Rather I enjoy male comedians such as Lewis Black, George Carlin, Bill Maher, and Dennis Miller.

Posted by Jessica Schrinsky at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's strange how humor, or being funny is seen as un-feminin. Comedy is man-territory. It seems like funny roles in movies are delegated to secondary roles. Funny girls are either the unattractive, awkward side-kick to the leading lady or man, secretly harboring serious jelousy towards them. Or the funny girl is hot and dumb; her humor isn't clever or based on social commentary. She is unwittingly funny. We're laughing at her, not with her.

Posted by Hanah Berhane at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Women have used comedy to poke holes in cultural norms. As examples, Tina Fey is a popular woman comedian who we've discussed as a class is a woman who uses comedy to ridicule certain traditional women's gender norms; Margaret Cho uses comedy to challenge stereotypes about not only women, but lesbians and Asians as well; Amy Poehler is another SNL cast member who is a woman who uses comedy to make fun of women's mores. I think comedy is a useful tool in promoting what can be considered feminist ideas. The pop culture definition of feminism seems strongly linked to being tremendously serious, not fun, and radical. Using comedy to sarcastically act out these norms is a fun and funny way to challenge these traditional ideas.
I don't watch many comedians perform besides those which perform in films, so I'm afraid I don't have a varied perspective on women comedians. However, I have seen sketches written and performed by Tina Fey, as well as reading some of her writing, and I think that she is very funny because I like her wit and sarcasm. The uncritical believer could sometimes wonder if she's even joking, because if she was, she'd be implying the slightly radical. Because she is joking, she implies the radical through mockery of the normal, which I find tremendously funny.

Posted by Emma Furness at 11:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

women have used Comedy to redefine norms in many ways regard issues such as political, social, gender, and racism. One can only do and say so much. However, comedy have given women the opportunity to say and point out what they see around them and what goes on around them. Comedy is a way of getting your angers out and make a fool of yourself while you are trying to pinpoint issues in your life or the outsiders of your surrounding. Because some time it's hard to talk about the kind of issues that are concerning you or the people you know. Therefore, comedy has become a way of redefining norms in such ways that are funny and humorous. It has given women the voice to pinpoint their issues in a form that would not target anyone but themselves, and how they see the world. With comedy women are able to talk about issues regarding sexism, racism, and many things that society thinks that are worthless. Comedy has provided women with a voice that can be heard and heard in ways that are funny, humurous, and that no one can hold charges against any unwanted works and/or voices on stages. Unlike speakers, or speeches that has to be correct or look over before it can be spoken. I admire women who can used comedy as a helpful tool to accomplish or pinpoint issues out, because not a lot of women have a voice that will be listen in society. Therefore, I think that comedy is a useful tool for women or anyone to pinpoint issues out and not be offended by anyone. And yet, if it is offended of anyone there is nothing that can be press charged against what is being spoken or say because it is in the form of comedy.
However, I do not have a favorite women comedian but I do very admired a Hmong comedian who presents folk tales of the Hmong people and who retold his life of resettlement in the United States in a humurous way. So far he is the only Hmong comedian in Minnesota and I love to go see him perform every time he is out performing some thing. Even though it's the same thing over and over it is very enjoying. And yet I am also a refugee resettling in teh United States therefore, I can tied my life to what he retold about his journey to America and his struggles as he came here. But what I likek about his retelling is that it's in the form of comedy and no one has done such thing.

Posted by Alanna Yang at 8:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Comedy as a political and social tool has always been prominent - the popularity of the Daily Show being a prime example of how social change can be brought about via humor. I don't seek out comedians of any kind, and I can only name a handful of recent female comedians (Margaret Cho, Sarah Silverman, Rachel Dratch...you get the idea). Of these few women that come to mind, only Margaret Cho brings to mind feminism. As we all know, she's outspoken on gender issues as well as gay rights. I think that in this case comedy is a useful tool because it feels or seems less threatening to listen to than a politician's speech. While it is unlikely that someone who is homophobic would ever pick up a book about gender issues, it is quite possible for that same person to stumble upon a stand-up routine dealing with those same problems on daytime Comedy Central. In this more accessible format, arguments for serious social and political issues can reach the ears of those who are likely to avoid it in other settings.

I think that comedy can subvert and redefine norms, especially about women, since it was thought to be a man's arena. The act alone of women picking up this oddly gendered tool and using it serves to subvert expectations and to slowly change norms. It also, as in the case of Cho, gives women a new space in which to address issues that matter to them. And the broader the reach of feminist messages, the more attention they are bound to receive.

Posted by Jenny at 7:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I thought the blog for this week was somewhat ironic, seeing that I just participated in a group presentation on the Guerilla Girls. As we discussed, one of the main tools that the Guerilla girls use to combat the sexism prevalent in the art world is comedy and humor. This is doubly reinforcing because it makes the feminist movement more appealing to a wider audience and it also subverts the stereotypes that the general public has about feminists being "man-hating bitches". I think this is a very effective way to get more people involved in a movement that doesnt get as much publicity and activism as it needs to be sucessful.
We also watched the movie "Mean Girls" in class which also used comedy to combat serious issues for today's women, namely, that of girl on girl fighting and hatred. This movie took a different angle in the comedy that they implemented. The Guerilla Girls used a provacative, concise humor while the writers of "Mean Girls" used a more cheesy, immature form of comedy. I think the movie also did a good job at approaching serious issues with humor, but were lacking some depth that the Guerilla Girls offered. They seemed to poke around at the ideas but not really explore them seriously or offer solutions.
In conclusion, humor is a tool used by some feminists to grab a generation of girls that may not know all the issues effecting their lives. Overall, I think this is an effective and refreshing way to get the message out but seeing that it is comedy there needs to be careful consideration to the manner in which it is used. In some cases, like "mean girls", the comedy may not be seen as serious and thus the issues arent either.

Posted by Alana Riemermann at 6:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Oddly enough, this blog relates perfectly to my group's chosen feminist role model for our project.

Comediennes like Margaret Cho, Rosanne, and even Lucille Ball have used humor to bring serious issues to the forefront and to talk about issues in a less "delicate" and fearful way.

Lucille Ball was the first woman to ever show herself pregnant on TV, something considered taboo at the time. By being her usually funny and playful self, she helped to make pregnancy and childbirth "socially acceptable", and something we readily see on TV today. By not being afraid of her own body and what was happening to it with pregnancy, she was showing American women that pregnancy was not an illness, or something to be hidden.

Roseanne's outrageous personality and acceptance of her working-class background were considered groundbreaking things in comedy. She discussed issues like alcoholism, abuse, welfare, and working-class poverty with honesty and wit, drawing from her own life for her material. This helped spur conversation about these issues within the american public. No longer something to be ignored, these serious issues were dealt with in her comedy and on her television show. Roseanne was also the first network actress to have a lesbian kiss.

Margaret Cho is a perfect example of a woman in comedy that uses her material to address serious issues facing society today. Discrimination, bigotry, "mean-girls", and sexuality are all topics that she confronts and addresses with her material. She too draws from her life experience for the majority of her material, and gives power and pride to marginalized social groups through jokes.

Comedy is a useful tool to address social issues if it is handled with care in a non-discriminating and judgemental way. It allows for a more lighthearted approach to serious issues, bringing people into conversations on issues in a less intimidating and threatening way.

Posted by Nicole Balistreri at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)