Making fun of/with stereotypes (Boys on the side)
The movie "Boys on the side" uses stereotypes about race and sexuality throughout the movie. Stereotypes are sometimes exploited in comedies in ways that challenge these same stereotypes, by mocking them and highlighting their falseness or outrageousness. But this movie uses stereotypes in order to make jokes. Instead of making fun OF stereotypes, it uses stereotypes to comedic effect by recalling these stereotypes. The movie does not subvert societal ideas about gender, race and sexuality. It actually manages to uphold and reinforce them.
The many jokes centered around Jane's sexuality struck me as very clear examples of the exploitation of stereotypes within the plot and within the comedic scenes. A somewhat important plot point is the fact that Jane always falls in love with straight women who will never respond to her affections. This is just presented as fact, without an exploration of Jane's attractions and feelings. We hear Holly and Robin criticize Jane for this tendency, but we never hear from Jane's point of view. This stereotypical representation of lesbian attraction also allows the movie to skirt away from exploring any romantic partnerships for Jane. Lesbian romantic relationships are never explored. In addition to Jane's constant attraction to her heterosexual female friends, other jokes are made regarding sexuality. Holly makes a comment summarizing all she knows about lesbians; that they are very emotional, they like uniforms and that one shouldn't break their hearts. The stereotypes function as the source of the joke, but the stereotypes are never explored or challenged in any way. They are just a means to achieve a laugh.
Racial issues are also used for comedic effect. When Jane first meets Robin, she says that she is cautious of going on a road-trip with Robin, because Robin is the whitest woman in the world. Again, this is a comedic moment. But we never hear why Jane finds Robin's whiteness as a potential problem. Whatever racial issues could have arisen, are never discussed. Even though this initial comment hints at some problems or issues related to their differing races, Robin and Jane do not talk about it again.
Near the end of the movie there is an interesting scene that mixes both racial and sexual stereotypes in order to make a joke. Abe and Jane go to see the baby after Holly has given birth. When they find the baby they see that the child is black. That fact in itself is meant as a comedic moment, an incongruity from what we expect a child to look like from a white woman like Holly. Immediately Jane states to Abe "Don't look at me!", jokingly stating that she is not the "father" of the black baby. This joke relies on the idea that lesbians are somehow excedingly; so masculine that they can father children. It also is affected by the fact that Jane is the only black character seen throughout the film.
These examples highlight the ways that "Boys on the side" uses many stereotypes about race and sexuality in order to advance plot points and as a source of comedic entertainment. Though issues regarding interactions between black and white people, interracial relationships, and the characteristics of lesbian romantic attractions are brought up through jokes, they are never fleshed out within the film. The movie deals with love, friendship and sickness, but does not tackle deeper issues like race relations and lesbian relationships. By using these latter topics as jokes while never expressly dealing with these topics, the movie manages to reinforce those same stereotypes.