bookmark_borderOffended

What’s funny and what’s offensive? The Aristocrats documentary falls short of any insight into the dividing line, although it’s universally acknowledged that the line is there and can be stepped over very easily, in fact there were two definite “not comfortable with this moments” in the documentary itself:

One was a comedian telling his version of the joke to his one year old son. The kid had no idea what his father was saying, but it still made me uncomfortable after all surely it is part of being a child, part of growing up that allows you to come across these terms in your own time and make your own decisions as to what you do and don’t find offensive.

The other was by a comedy writer turning the joke on it’s head and trying for an offensive “punchline”. This was actually done twice in the documentary, one worked very well, the other failed for me because of the language used (if you watch it, the one that failed is by the male comedy writer, the one that definitely worked is by the comedienne). Suffice to say that, for the one that failed, it used terms I’m not even comfortable posting here.

One comedy writer described the Aristocrats joke as a mirror, offering more about the comedian telling the joke than the audience laughing at it: “If the joke contains bestiality, don’t let him walk your dog”. But surely your reaction to these things also says something about you, and I guess it’s similar when discussing any taboo subject. EVERYONE has a reaction to the subject, it’s how you deal with the reaction, and deal with the information later on that makes us individuals.

However when you break these things down, it’s very easy to place some distance between yourself and the repulsive content you are discussing, as evidence by an editorial meeting shown at the offices of The Onion where they compile a list of possible topics, each one worse than the previous. Is ” ‘and then he fucked Jesus in the ass’ more offensive than any form of race-baiting?” they pondered (and apologies if… ohh you get the drift).

I think it would be pretty easy to write-up a list of possibly offensive topics, but one thing I noticed last night was that despite some of the topics being used in the joke being WAY beyond my personal radar of “acceptable humour”, I was laughing heartily. In fact it was the most laughs I’ve heard in a cinema for quite a while, even if they were all a little on the hysterical “I shouldn’t be laughing at this so I’ll laugh a little TOO hard lest anyone think I’m not a bit offended” side.

So it’s very easy to wrap this up, and stop waffling, by going for a simple closing along the lines of “each to their own, and be considerate of your fellow man”. But, you know what, fuck that. The entire POINT of the Aristocrats joke is to go too far, challenge your own taboos and take people in the audience with you. Maybe in this politically correct world we need a little more of that, a little more pushing back of the boundaries, some balls and bravado to say, fuck it. This is what I think, and I realise it may offend some people but that’s for THEM to deal with.

Of course I can’t leave it at that, the caveat being the it shouldn’t ever be deliberately aimed, deliberately focussed to cause offence or in any way hate related. We joke with some of our Muslim colleagues, and they constantly threaten to leave a backpack under our desks… WE know it’s a joke but have you been offended?

I’ll stop now and leave you with a throwaway joke from Bob Saget, as recounted by the woman he told it to:

“Bob said to me: ‘You know, you should leave a box of ultra-thin tampons lying around. That way, next time you take a date home he’ll think you’re really tight….'”.

bookmark_borderThe Aristocrats

Movie info from IMDB
Movie reviews from Metacritic

The Aristocrats of the title are the closing line of a joke, a family act that feature in a joke so disgustingly offensive comedians rarely tell it in public, or at least that’s partly why. The beauty of the joke is that the “act” can be swapped out for any one of a million perversions and so the joke has been on the go for decades – it’s reportedly the oldest joke in the industry.

This documentary deconstructs the joke, it’s origins and it’s place in comedy folklore, and features most of the best known comedians currently on the planet giving their understanding and their take on the joke. It’s also the first time I’ve ever be warned that the movie I was about to see was “very offensive”.

Completely composed of face to camera interviews and rehashings of the joke, we learn that it’s the middle part, the impromptu section, of the joke that fascinates. As it’s usually told by comedians for other comedians (after the audiences have left) the middle section relies on the ability to shock rather than any of the more standard comedy techniques – there is no wry observation or biting satire here.

I’ll happily admit that, whilst there are (and I did) laugh out loud sections, any documentary that deals with a topic that deliberately tries to shock is always going to bring uncomfortable moments, but the power of the joke is that whilst you are laughing you are willingly following the comedian beyond the usual line that society deems acceptable. It’s all relative and subjective of course but if you watch this and don’t find ANYTHING that shocks or sickens then you need some therapy.

However, it’s comedy and it’s the laughs that remain at the forefront. On the face of it, the coarse language and topic may seem blunt but that’s half of the point. The comedians ability to deliver the material and be funny with it is what is being challenged here. To take people beyond the subject and into comedy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

This documentary WAS offensive, but like all good documentaries it explains without patronising, and offers it’s subject for what it is, allowing the viewer to decide. I loved it and laughed my socks off; the South Park section being a highlight which is available online.

More info:
The Aristocrats Joke – a database of versions. WILL OFFEND!
Wikipedia entry for The Aristocrat

bookmark_borderCatches win Matches

Before my Mum returned to work she knitted. A lot. But I’ve mentioned that before, so let’s move on.

Cricket then, and yes there is a link between the two because my Mum spent a lot of time knitting she liked to watch something that she could follow whilst glancing up and down from the clacking needles and mohair and cricket fitted the bill perfectly. As it was on, I found myself watching as well and soon picked up the basics all the while marvelling at Ian Botham as he bowled and batted like a mad thing (it was ’81).

Fast forward to today and I’m sitting at work with Radio Five on my headphones. It’s ten to five and England have, essentially, won the Ashes and all the while my mind is flashing back to my childhood. What a lovely day.

bookmark_borderGod* Bless America

America has been on the receiving end of some harsh criticism recently, and a lot of it has been warranted. But who are we to criticise? What do we really know about America?

For a lot of us, the occasional trip to a big city or a holiday resort, for others you only know what you see or read, filtered through news networks or blogs. What do we REALLY know about America?

How many people live in poverty? What’s the rate of child deaths? How many people die of starvation? Will Brad and Jen get back together?

Then there are the calls for charity, for donations to help the sick and starving in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The images still fresh in the mind, the looting, the violence, the death, are interrupted by another appeal, this time for the starving people in Niger. Drought and locusts killed off last years crops, and the people have no food. They are not in a rich country, they do not have neighbours who can take them in, they have not looted and violated. Who deserves?

The culture in America has created a “winner takes all” society, and the richest country in the world is asking for help. Billions of dollars are required to rebuild houses and lives, and Americans are pitching in, doing their bit, helping their neighbours. But why do they need my help? My charity? Where will my money make a difference? Africa or America?

There is no right or wrong answer of course. Yet the internal conflict remains and I struggle to balance my own thoughts on the matter. America has been treated harshly, yes. Their government has failed to act appropriately, yes. They have the resources they need to solve this themselves, yes. Have they helped out other countries when similar has happened? Yes. The good and bad sides of America are at war, and the country seems to be stretching itself, slowly awaking from its slumber with the realisation that only whilst it is sleeping is it truely the land of dreams.

* Insert deity of choice

bookmark_borderIt's a girl

Congrats to our HR/Office Manager Lynn who’s just given birth to 8lbs of baby goodness, Robyn.

Which reminds me of a funny story.

In my distant past I used to help out at the local Hospital Radio station (must get that site updated…) on the request show. It’s a fairly simple setup, you wander round the wards, chat to some patients and take requests for their favourite record. The maternity wards were always a favourite – younger patients, hotter nurses… er… more modern music choices – and so it was one night that we headed back to the station, requests in hand.

Now much as I’d like to give the impression that it was a highly organised setup it was usual more a case of rushing back ten minutes before the show started, looking out the first few tracks and jumping on air without much thought. Hence the reason the show, that night, started with the opening line of:

“Welcome along to the request show, we’ve got a stack of requests to get through tonight, so let’s get started. First up, a request for Nancy in Ward 5 from her husband. He’s so delighted that she’s just given birth to a baby Robin…”

Cue fits of giggles.

Still makes me chuckle.

bookmark_borderTime flies

Met up with an ex-colleague last night for some drinks and can’t believe it’s been over a year since she headed off to Australia. In fact it turned into a bit of a re-union with Kirsten, Lesley Lindsay and Lelly all showing up as well. Half of last night’s company used to work for “the company”. Odd that, but in a very very good way.

I’m terrible at keeping in touch with people. Awful. I often think of phoning or emailing or txting someone but decide against it lest I bother them or, ohh the horror, they don’t respond (they hate me, they really really hate me!!). But that’s my neurosis to deal with, not yours. So it was great to catch up with people and it’s like they’d never been away, all that was missing was the appearance of Laura’s notorious laugh. It doesn’t happen often but if you REALLY catch her off-guard you can get a fantastic pig impersonation…