The Miseducation of Dave Chappelle

[sanmiguelmalo]

The Miseducation of Dave Chappelle, reappropriate_xIt's no secret that I don't particularly like Dave Chappelle. When he was doing the "Chappelle's Show" on Comedy Central, there were times when I simply had to leave the room. I find the endless toilet humour and inane racism of his comedy grating, and although I appreciate some of his sketches (for example, "The

Comments

[chr0me_kitten]

Did anyone expect Chappelle's show to do as well as it did, though? I'm wondering what the reaction would have been if it ended up being a cult show - if much of the criticism has more to do with its popularity than its content alone. The popularity changed the context of the content. The first sketch was the black white supremacist sketch. I remember watching that and being amazed that it even made it on the air. It felt really transgressive - like he was getting away with something. And part of me thinks it's more important that he got away with that, even just for a little bit, than worrying that a large part of the audience didn't get it. The people who were laughing "at the wrong thing" were always going to laugh at the wrong thing. Does that mean we don't get to do things from our points of view (and by "we" I mean POC in this context) ever because there are always going to be people who are looking for permission for indulging in their racism?

Also, again, I *really* respect Chappelle for walking away when the network took away control. I remember when Keenan Ivory Wayans lost control of In Living Color - the show lost any relevance and definitely crossed the line into becoming what it had previously critiqued. Aside from the "lost episodes" that Dave didn't want aired (and that I won't be watching), Chappelle will never have that moment.

[sanmiguelmalo]

that's a great point. i want to almost equate it with the way people relate to each other different depending on the environment, like if it's a group of people who are down and in a safe space, they can say things that they couldn't in more public spaces with other people because there's no danger of it being misread. i definitely don't think POC viewpoint work shouldn't be performed or brought into the mainstream commons but when it is i feel like we have to be extra vigilant about what it's being used for and how it's being read. like going back to my slightly (okay more than slightly) absurd ideal poc comedy show, challenging any misreading or misuse of the content. this is unfeasible of course but that's the idea. or the spirit at least.

i have lots of respect for dave chappelle for walking away when he lost control of the show. i think i was like, 10 when i was watching in living color (sneakily watching, my mom definitely disapproved of that show) so i'm thinking i may have missed the critique. :p what did you think of the wayans brothers show?