by Drew McCreadie
| A Nazi, a racist, and a fine person who marches with Nazis and racists walk into a bar. The Nazi says to the bartender, “You will not replace us.” The racist says, “I am superior.” And the fine person that marches with Nazis and racists says nothing because he doesn’t exist. The events in the United States in the past month have brought the issues of race, racism, and hatred into the foreground of our collective thinking again. And in response to this, comedians have responded with their take on the re-emergence of organised hatred and racism into the mainstream of society. From Tina Fey’s cake devouring return to Saturday Night Live to segments by hosts such as Seth Meyers, John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and many others, US comedians each took time to talk somberly about the automobile attack on protesters in Charlottesville, and then used their comedy to lambast the horrific sentiments expressed by President Trump in his improvised press conferences wherein he defended white supremacists and neo-Nazis. |  |
| The alt-right (i.e. KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists) marches and Trump’s response to them and the violence the marches incited are obviously big news. While it is of little surprise that comedians would address the topic (as they would with any big news story), the jump to the action of these comedians, especially in this instance, is more than simply a case of creating material based on the biggest news item of the present cycle. Rather, it is an instinctive response by comedians who have heard the siren that alerts of the approach of hatred. This is the call to arms for comedians, and one they find impossible to ignore. Humour is one of the most potent weapons against hatred and bigotry, as humour is particularly powerful at pointing out the absurdity. The racial hatred that is bubbling to the surface in America once again is based on some absurd assumptions: assumptions about race, historical facts, and moral equivalencies. And when comedians witness absurdities, especially of this magnitude, they are unable to help themselves: they have to respond. It’s both a moral duty, but on a deeper level, a compulsion: a natural, unconscious, and irresistible urge to push back at the absurdities that are racial hatred and bigotry. It is sometimes easy to forget that art is more than just lovely things made once the basic needs for food, shelter, and security are satisfied. Art is the supreme expression of a well-functioning society. It is also easy to forget (because it is so damn fun!) that comedy is an art form. But here is a perfect reminder of the importance of comedy as an artistic expression of the best ideals and thinking of society. It is times like these, where society is truly threatened by the prospect of dark thinking that the light of comedy reveals itself as an important guardian of our collective sanity. It’s the time where comedians reveal themselves as social warriors who have been lying in wait, disguised as harmless clowns. Nothing is more destructive to hateful thinking than being made a laughingstock. As this issue becomes more heated, prepare for a sharp increase in the quality, quantity, and effectiveness of comedy. The battle has begun: It’s time to send in the clowns! |  This month at the Comedy Club Bangkok Stand-up Comedy Open Mic International guests joining newcomers and Bangkok’s ever more seasoned comics for a great night’s laughs. Friday, Sep 1 at 8.30pm. Tickets are B600 in advance and B800 at the door include a drink and drink specials. Improve of Two Cities: L.A. & Chicago Keith Saltojanes (Improv LA) and Rob O'Conor (The Second City) joined local improvisors for a night of special guests. Friday, Sep 8 at 8.30m. Tickets are B400 in advance and B500 at the door include a drink and drink specials. The Comedy Club Bangkok 3rd Anniversary Come join the celebration with both standup and improv comedy with Darren Sanders and Meg Anderson. Friday, Sep 15 at 8.30pm. Tickets are B600 in advance and B800 at the door include a drink and drink specials. The Comedy Club Bangkok Sukhumvit 33/1 (above Royal Oak Pub) comedyclubbangkok.com |
