Do Comics Hate Jews?
There seems to be an increasing trend, alas, amongst my favourite and otherwise more incisive and astute comedians, towards racism - specifically anti-semitic.
Doug Stanhope's Edinburgh show, whilst blazing, a great deal of it insightful, and a lot of it well beyond the edge of taste, featured a Mel Gibson bit. The ultimate point made, is that those who dredge up their religion or their race for needless reasons as if to piggy-back off it to their benefit in conversations, are despicable.
Problem is, Stanhope introduces the observation with the phrase "Mel Gibson - I agree. I hate the fucking Jews, doesn't everyone?'
Unfortunately, this isn't ultimately the point that's made, and the observation, after this comment, becomes defunct - you have framed yourself as a racist.
Thing is, I know, from 4 years of listening to every single track available, including bootlegs, that Stanhope is not a racist and gains a lot of his comedic power from setting up comments or judgements, and then annihilating them in the same way that South Park pits the 2 sides of a current public debate, and then springs their "third way" answer into the middle of it, making you feel stupid that you only saw the 2 sides offered. Example of it working in Stanhope's material (from the Austin Bootleg introduced by Alex Jones) -
"Here's my view on Gay Marriage -NO! How do you like that? NO!
And how about this. Straight Marriage -NO! NO!
Marriage shouldn't be a legal institution!"
See? There it works. The first comment, guiding you to the conclusion that his attack is upon 'Gay', it is in fact marriage that is attacked, to the defense of the rights of anyone - gay or straight.
Problem is - the jew comment works in the opposite - Stanhope attacks 'Jews' too directly for it to be undermined. Consequently, fans and those who know his work, know he's not racist but have no argument against the accusations of racism - it's like Jesus saying 'Worship Satan.' - Christians know he doesn't mean it - but it's a Satanist sentiment - either way.
Steve Hughes, a comedian with a similar look and feel to Mitch Hedberg, and another firm fave, seems to have done the same in the linked Chortle.co.uk article. However, I don't know the surrounding context. Sadly, it sounds like I wouldn't have to.
One to keep an eye on - Sometimes even we fans should stifle our laughter at the right places, for fear of becoming the worst kind of hypocrite - one who laughs.
Doug Stanhope's Edinburgh show, whilst blazing, a great deal of it insightful, and a lot of it well beyond the edge of taste, featured a Mel Gibson bit. The ultimate point made, is that those who dredge up their religion or their race for needless reasons as if to piggy-back off it to their benefit in conversations, are despicable.
Problem is, Stanhope introduces the observation with the phrase "Mel Gibson - I agree. I hate the fucking Jews, doesn't everyone?'
Unfortunately, this isn't ultimately the point that's made, and the observation, after this comment, becomes defunct - you have framed yourself as a racist.
Thing is, I know, from 4 years of listening to every single track available, including bootlegs, that Stanhope is not a racist and gains a lot of his comedic power from setting up comments or judgements, and then annihilating them in the same way that South Park pits the 2 sides of a current public debate, and then springs their "third way" answer into the middle of it, making you feel stupid that you only saw the 2 sides offered. Example of it working in Stanhope's material (from the Austin Bootleg introduced by Alex Jones) -
"Here's my view on Gay Marriage -NO! How do you like that? NO!
And how about this. Straight Marriage -NO! NO!
Marriage shouldn't be a legal institution!"
See? There it works. The first comment, guiding you to the conclusion that his attack is upon 'Gay', it is in fact marriage that is attacked, to the defense of the rights of anyone - gay or straight.
Problem is - the jew comment works in the opposite - Stanhope attacks 'Jews' too directly for it to be undermined. Consequently, fans and those who know his work, know he's not racist but have no argument against the accusations of racism - it's like Jesus saying 'Worship Satan.' - Christians know he doesn't mean it - but it's a Satanist sentiment - either way.
Steve Hughes, a comedian with a similar look and feel to Mitch Hedberg, and another firm fave, seems to have done the same in the linked Chortle.co.uk article. However, I don't know the surrounding context. Sadly, it sounds like I wouldn't have to.
One to keep an eye on - Sometimes even we fans should stifle our laughter at the right places, for fear of becoming the worst kind of hypocrite - one who laughs.