die fborfw

Something happened recently when I saw the photo in the paper of a wildly gesticulating Michael Richards silhouetted against a comedy club sign that read "Laugh": I began to think about contemporary comedy -- about Borat, Seinfield, Curb Your Enthusiasm and even the hit British sitcom The Office.

It seems like a coincidence that the comedian who played Kramer on Seinfeld is the latest celebrity to have an attack of racist Tourette's syndrome.

But is it just a coincidence, or is there a connection between our favourite contemporary comedies and racism?

Don't get me wrong. I don't support censorship. I'm a big fan of camp, and of any comedy that pushes the envelope. (In fact, I was inspired by the early films of John Waters, such as Pink Flamingos, to create my own version of camp at Toronto's Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.)

But because commercial entertainment is a mega-business that must please a mass audience, it may tell us something deeper about the attitudes that permeate our culture.

For example, what made the manager David Brent in The Office so funny? Sure, he's a bad boss -- but significantly, he often puts his foot in his mouth by making racist and sexist remarks. George Findlay on Canada's own The Newsroom, Ken Finkleman's character, is famously politically incorrect.

Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm has the same problem -- he just can't seem to figure out what's wrong with commenting on the neighbour woman's fat, black behind, or ridiculing an effeminate shoe salesman.

They call this genre "cringe" comedy, and the newly crowned king of cringe is Sasha Baron Cohen. His Borat character covers all the bases: He is homophobic, unabashedly anti-Semitic and misogynist, fearing homosexuals, celebrating "the running of the Jews" and shoving a woman (Pamela Anderson) into a bag, for easy-access molestation.

Critics remind us that we're not supposed to like these politically incorrect men. And for the most part, we don't. But we can't stop laughing at them. Why?

I think it all started with Seinfeld. The show is supposedly about nothing, and yes, on the most basic level it is a comedy of nuisance: Seinfeld can't stand that girl with "man hands" or the "low talker." But in some episodes -- often the most hilarious -- the irritations take on a more sinister character.

How does Elaine, for example, inform a disabled stroke victim that she can't take care of him any more? She just tells him that he's boring her to distraction because they have nothing in common.

In one famous episode, George and Jerry are mistaken for homosexuals. They deny it, each time hilariously assuring us, "Not that there's anything wrong with that." This is funny because we know that there most definitely is something wrong, in our culture, with being a homosexual, and that no straight men -- especially effete metrosexuals like Jerry and George -- wish to be mistaken for one.

What a pain, the episode seems to be saying, that we have to go through the tiresome charade of apologizing for our real feelings, in order to be politically correct! We're all homophobic. So get used to it and stop whining, okay?

After 40 years or so of being told by feminists, gay liberationists and anti-racists to watch our tongues, there is a tremendous sense of freedom in watching Seinfeld and George question why, after all, we can't just be openly homophobic.

In my opinion, this plea for a verbal loosening of the stays has now come to a crashing climax. Witness the unabashed joy audiences experience watching Borat call women whores and remind us that all Jews have long noses.

We're assured that these comedies are not racist, misogynist or homophobic -- that, in fact, Borat is making fun of racism. Borat is a modern, self-aware, camp creation, critics say.

There are several problems with this argument. First, the dumb racist Borat is the epitome of a foreigner. The film's primary ridicule is not aimed at complacent Westerners, but at the very opposite -- an ignorant Arab or Muslim. Also, Borat's humour is miles away from camp's style of offensiveness. Camp celebrates not common prejudices, but society's outsiders and their right to acceptance.

More importantly, not everyone watching Borat is a Cambridge-educated expert on postmodern theory, as Sasha Baron Cohen is. After catching the flick in the small Ontario town where I live, I overheard two kids in the men's washroom sharing their glee -- "Hey," one kid said to the other, "that 'running of the Jews,' wasn't it great?"

I detected no irony in their appreciation; they seemed to be in awe of those who can speak racism out loud.

Of course, commercial writers and performers are not responsible for the cultural climate that created them. And perhaps these comedians are right -- trying to hide our prejudices doesn't work.

But since we have not found a more satisfactory solution than to mask them with political correctness, these satires leave us celebrating our relentless anger at those who are different from us or who lack our privilege.

Whatever you think of the messengers, the message this entertainment sends us has not been fully acknowledged: Hatred is alive and well. And, heck, we love it.

I hesitate to agree with the verbally incontinent Michael Richards, who said during his outburst: "It shocks you, it shocks you," because it refers to "what lays buried."

But perhaps our hatred lies not quite so buried as we had thought. However, I support die fborfw. It's not hate disguised as comedy but comedy disguised as hate.

Mike:"MOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHERRRRRRRRRRRRRFUCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKERRRRRRRRRRRRRR, oops supposed to only think that"
Robin:"It's twime for a comic intwerlude, daddy, bwreaking up the wintense Howard twial"
Mike:"Are you Elmer Fudd or some idiot kid affecting a cute voice? Kids do that on purpose, like over-the-top lisping, limp-wristed hommmmmmmmmooooooooooooooo-sexuals"

Liz:"I want to go back to the courthouse so I can hear the underwhelming verdict and shit more on the justice system"
Elly:"I'd bring back lynchings and ball-hangings. I would, ya know, ya hear??"
...
John:"Antony's kind, sweet, gentle, cares for you and ugly. And he was entirely innocent in the break-up of his marriage, because black-and-white is how the world is. And best of all, he not an engine"
Lez:"Ummm, I've got news for you. I'm now seeing Antony's ex, Therese"

Nasty

*Elly turns away from Lizardbreath, her visage profound*
Elly:"People have been asking why since the DAWN OF MAN...*pause for effect*...mind you back in the dawn of man, hariy man see hairy woman, bring into cave and ravage. Not much discussion there... Where was I? Some sort of pun? Oh yeah, bitter, bitter, BITTER WOMAN"


Sylvia:"Are you alright Elizabeth? You're ass region looks particularly wide in this panel"
...
Elly:"I'm proud of y'all. All y'all"
*Liz turns away from Elly, her sculpted, pretty, wise countenance looking off into the distance*
Liz:"I didn't have courage...*pause for effect*...but I was armed to the teeth...with...tru.."
Guard interrupts:"Weapons eh? Come with me"
Guard brings her to a cave and ravages her

Liz:"Hey Dad, not staying for the trial?"
Elly:"Ummm, I'm your Mom. Let's go get steaming cups o' joe. Incidentally, how'd you get such a petite nose, when me and your Dad got bolbuous honkers?"
...
Elly:"Honey, just imagine a mouse crawling over your face every night to get to cookies on your shelf. Then imagine confronting him one night, his body momentarily still, his cute pinky ears and charcoal black eyes set against his evil deeds. Then imagine chasing him around the room with a broom, finally beat him to a dead pulp, just like beating lil bastards at Camp Bickel. Then imagine the blood-stained bucket, from which you tossed the corpse, driving out all your cabin-mates, leaving an entire, delightful cabin for your enjoyment"
Liz:"Well that was a drawn-out. Fact is, I'm a skank-whore"

Japanese woman:"Anthony-son, your appearance is a cross between fborflover and Mr. Gretel aka MGM. Have good day"
Liz:"I know, that's why I'm so hot for him. Not for the latter resemblance, but the former. Raaaaaaaarrrrr"

Judge:"Please, do cut and paste from a previous strip. Just as lazy as last week's hilarious misadventures of a rogue cat. And by hilarious, I mean unhilarious"
Liz:"He cupped my C-Cup.."
Lawyer:"Your honour, we all know she's B at best"
Judge:"Case dismissed. Plus I like the blunt, jovial features of Hoawrd's face"

Judge:"Miss Scarlett Johansson lips but not bosom, please identify the balding guys in this court"
Liz:"There's so many, I don't know who touched me. All I remember is dropping toilet paper. I was on my way to the ladies loo, you know"
*Liz sobs*
Judge:"Why the fuck are you standing up?"

Elly:"If the family component of Team Triangle consists of 2 lesbians moms, does it become an inverted pink triangle?"
Blonde glob of hair woman:"Hey, you just took these useless slides from a P.D. day"
...
Dude:"Hey, Fun-Ding! Great. Why don't we just write 'Spray-Paint on this gay-ass pun'"
...
Elly:"I took the liberty of blacking-out some offensive words and ideas in these books "
Black Dude:"What you call me, cracker?"
...
*April spoons Liz*
Elly:"I may lead a tremendous fulfilling life, but my kids are spooning and that's fucked up"

I did the cartoon below before seeing this. Dilbert is stalking me I think

John:"Liz, you seem to be developing Angelina Jolie lips"
Liz:"I like to think Scarlett Johannson lips. Jolie is old and tired"
John:"Too bad you aint got the Scarlett rack, if you know what I'm saying. You know what I'm saying?"
Liz:"I wish to suckle from Jolie's teats"

Antony:"Here little Francie....up you go...weee..oops"
*francie lands face-first into the wind-shield*
Antony:"Given who her mother is, I sometimes wonder if I do this sort of thing on purpose"
Liz:"Given who her step-mom's gonna be, I wonder if Francie does that sort of thing on purpose"

Iris:"Should we go Jim? You ran away screaming like a girl from the military, and those were only military recruiters"
Jim:"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
April:"Moooooooooom. I wanna play the new Wii and PS3 you lavished on me instead of being around these incontinent old people. And if I don't get my way, I'm gonna feed this poppy to this dog here...Here boy!! Mmmmm, pokey"

Antony:"I think it's time to rail against the legal system yet again"
Lizardbreath:"Wah wah wah waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Antony:"Well I kept myself busy by thinking of the word 'supeona'"
Liz:"I wish I was working in school instead of in your company"

Elizabeth, telepathing:"She's getting pretty flawed eh? Oh, what the clan Patterson must endure at times"
Grandpa, telepathing:"Should we ever tell her we're a singular, superior family descended from Jesus?"
Elizabeth:"Heresy! We derive from Mary Magdelene, and you know it!"
Grandpa:"Or could it have been both?"
Elizabeth:"Woah"

Liz:"Hey, this a token visit"
Iris:"Hello dear. I believe Jim wishes to ask you why you are slutted up for your assault case, when that's what got you in trouble in the first place"
Liz:"I believe Jim wishes to ask you why are you getting fatter by the minute"
Iris:"And I believe Iris is asking you to suck my hairy fat one"

Phil:"I love you pops"
*Phil flashes gang hand-signal, indicating that Shannon has been taken care of, the vegetable-head acknowledges*

Elly:"Poo already!"
Dixie and sheepdog:*grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfucker*
Elly:"Eaaa-sy; better close the door"
Shannon:"Dogs mirror..their..owners..or...dogs become...vicious towards...people lacking....a...soul...which is..ironic"
Elly:"What the fuck are you doing here? Hey there's some nice puppies outside"
Shannon:"Oooo, lemme pet...OH....GAWD"
*Shannon is shredded limb by limb*

April:"I don't wanna be famous!"
Shannon:"Me too...and I choose..not..to be...smart"
April:"Anyways, I thought your singing on 'Hizbollah' was nothing short of anti-semitic"
Rebecca:"I'm so lucky to have you as my amigo, April of infinte mercy, give me a hug"
*Shannon vomits on hugger and huggee*

Shannon:"Shannon...go..pooooooooooo"
*fffaaaaaaaaaaaaa...........aaaaaaaaarttttttttt*
Rebecca:"Oh, GAWD. At least I'm not a window-licker...Phil, what are you doing here?"
Phil:"I'm not here, I'm a hologram. Don't you have to go pee? Which requires you to pull down your lacey undergarments"

Eva:"Boy, Rebecca is sure getting her comeuppance for her diva-ish behaviour. Though, April, you're 20 times more self-righteous; clearly, your comeuppance is a lack of freshness, if you know what I'm saying."
Band member:"hummmph 'cum'...what? Someone's gotta act there age among us"
Rebecca:"Ok, this little diddy we call 'godslayer'"

Shannon:"I...CAN SEE...THE FUTURE!"
Rebecca:"What, you're gonna lick windows?"
Shannon:"YES...You will throw a hissy fit on stage because given you experience, you won't be used to technical difficulties...the crowd will hiss...you will be a bitch towards April..but her compassion will win you over...then 3-way"