UGANDANS IN THE BOOK OF MORMON

At the end of Griffin Matthews's powerful video, he says, The Book of Mormon is racist. I've seen it. I didn't laugh once and cringed at the Ugandans. Here are two articles about the show.

https://www.npr.org/2011/04/15/135437800/the-root-is-broadways-book-of-mormon-offensive

https://bulletin-archive.hds.harvard.edu/articles/summerautumn2012/cringe-worthy-depiction-africa

I'm glad the cast members are having a good time, but I've never been particularly convinced of what the show is meant to be satirizing, and it also comes from two of the worst non-rapists in the last couple decades of media, so I'm not terribly fond of it.

Charley Kringas Inc said: "I'm glad the cast members are having a good time, but I've never been particularly convinced of what the show is meant to be satirizing, and it also comes from two of the worst non-rapists in the last couple decades of media, so I'm not terribly fond of it."

What they are satirizing is literally the title of the musical lol

Matt and Trey would find your description of them hilarious. South Park is a brilliant show with tons of social commentary in it, it's just not for everyone.

Updated On: 6/9/20 at 06:08 PM

I'm not sure I have a fully formed opinion on this, but even if it's satire, it is still asking black people to act out black stereotypes for the laughter of mostly white audiences. Parker/Stone think being "equal opportunity offenders" gets them out of accountability and I don't think that's true.

VintageSnarker said: "I think it's just of a different time. We need to leave libertarian edge lords and their ironic detachment and refusal to care and empathize in the past."

When's the last time you actually watched? They have been doing a format of topical episodes for quite some time now, they make the episodes a week before they come out so it gives them plenty of room to touch on anything going on lately.

Updated On: 6/9/20 at 09:31 PM

I have always been partial to some of the greats/classics of the world of standup. George Carlin is, and will forever be my go to. He is a lover of work and how they are used and also has made great social observations of things going on at the time he preformed them. Scary thing is, many of his social observations are as on point now as they were then. I just linked to youtube one of my favorite routines of his where he does he does a humorous breakdown of language used when flying. And, it's a big fan favorite.

George Carlin's Airline Announcements

"I think this speaks to the broader issue of a lot of modern audiences not being able to separate portraying something onstage as condoning it"

This is so well articulated. I do wonder if this is a modern thing or an always thing? Anyway. It's something we should talk about more.

darquegk said: "And the past three seasons have been explicitly about growing out of libertarian nihilism and the importance of actually caring and owning your mistakes.

Parker and Stone are seemingly very aware that their libertarian period contributed to the rise of the alt-right, and have consciously pivoted HARD away from that."

Fair point. For my mental health, I've stopped engaging with stuff like that but good for them if they've made changes in the show. Speaking of stand ups, I just can't with Ricky Gervais anymore. Good female standups? Katherine Ryan, Hannah Gadsby, Naomi Ekperigin, Emily Heller, Michelle Wolf, Aisling Bea, Jena Friedman, Wanda Sykes, Giulia Rozzi, Cristela Alonzo, Nina Tarr... Also, try some James Acaster or Bo Burnham. I've really come to appreciate comedy that punches up or that doesn't feel the need to be edgy or shocking or mean.

TheQuibbler said: "I'm not sure I have a fully formed opinion on this, but even if it's satire, it is still asking black people to act out black stereotypes for the laughter of mostly white audiences. Parker/Stone think being"equal opportunity offenders" gets them out of accountability and I don't think that's true."

Yet, this is not the first time in entertainment where we are seeing someone who is black, laughing at black stereotypes for the sake of a white audience. Just take a look at the Mel Brooks film Blazing Saddles.

SweetLips22 said: "I dislike stand up comedy intensely but searching through Netflix I landed upon Daniel Sloss and his very dark humour. Not only his totally offensive subject matter but the way he brilliantly articulated on each subject was a master class.

I continued searching and discovered Anthony Jeselnik, Trevor Noah[love his and all of his accents], John Mulaney and Adam DeVine.

Tried a few of the female comics,even Amy Schuler[3 mins. was enough and she's worth MILLIONS] but don't cut it for me.

Perhaps someone can suggest a favourite.

Did watch ages ago the Asian female comic with a very potty mouth but her words were more shock than funny."

You're in Australia, right? Do you know Hannah Godsby? I discovered her on Netflix by accident and she may be the smartest stand-up since George Carlin. She has two specials on the platform: the first is a mixture of funny and serious, the second is mostly just funny. I can't recommend her too highly!

Otherwise, I am partial to John Mulaney, Bill Burr and Christopher Titus.

Updated On: 6/11/20 at 11:50 PM

BenjaminNicholas2 said: "FFS it's satire. Grow up.

"

Telling anyone, "It's satire! Suck it up, snowflake!" is conducive to nothing.

Especially if the intent of the material is to illicit discussion.

If someone feels hurt or offended by something, discuss it! Maybe you can learn from a different perspective. That is what the theater is mainly about beyond entertainment.