Are you wondering why Dave Chappelle is being attacked by comedy critics and reviewers?
The "here's what you missed about Dave Chappelle's latest special" megathread:
If you read the reviews of the Closer, you will notice several common threads.
The "here's what you missed about Dave Chappelle's latest special" megathread:
If you read the reviews of the Closer, you will notice several common threads.
1) They are more concerned with the politics of the show than the jokes
2) They claim he is obsessed with other people's genitals and transphobic
3) They are completely at odds with the experience of most people who clearly loved it
2) They claim he is obsessed with other people's genitals and transphobic
3) They are completely at odds with the experience of most people who clearly loved it
If you're wondering how this happened and why critics are so at odds with what you saw with your own eyes, here is how:
The comedy industry is dominated by a particular worldview. Specifically it has imbibed several ideas which reframe what comedy means.
The first of these is the postmodernist idea that words are capable of great harm - they are *literally* violence.
The first of these is the postmodernist idea that words are capable of great harm - they are *literally* violence.
Since the comedian has a microphone and is standing on stage with lights pointing at him while thousands of people observe him, unable to reply, the comedian's words are more powerful than a normal person's.
As such, the comedian's primary role is no longer to amuse and entertain but rather to be responsible with the great power he wields. Like a doctor, he must "first do no harm".
The other belief almost universally accepted by the comedy industry is the idea of "punching down".
The other belief almost universally accepted by the comedy industry is the idea of "punching down".
Punching down means making jokes involving a "marginalised group".
Since a marginalised group is particularly vulnerable, it requires special protection. A joke made about a powerful group is funny, but the same joke about a marginalised group is not.
Since a marginalised group is particularly vulnerable, it requires special protection. A joke made about a powerful group is funny, but the same joke about a marginalised group is not.
For example, in the Closer, Chappelle deliberately inaccurately conflates Jews with Israel several times. Because Jews are not "marginalised" according to this worldview, the reviews don't take issue with this.
However, exactly the same conflation of trans activists with trans people ("trans people make up words to win arguments") is "problematic" because trans people are oppressed.
Obviously, I don't know Chappelle's mind or intent but like any great artist he scatters clues throughout the show designed to help those with eyes to see.
The final section of the show is designed specifically to deconstruct the idea of punching down by revealing it for what it is: sleight of mouth designed to prevent you from seeing that in order to punch down you have to consider some people less capable than others.
When he talks about his trans friend demanding that people allow her to have a human experience, he reminds us of our shared humanity and of the fact that the only way you will ever be truly equal is when people treat you like an equal, not like a member of a marginalised group.
In summary, the reason comedy critics are so angry with Chappelle is that his show powerfully debunks the ideology they have imbibed. Like he said, they're all a bunch of "bitch ass niggas" and he pointed it out.
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