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We finally had a chance to read this week's New Yorker profile of Sarah Silverman, and it was excellent. Lots of great Sarah Silverman facts-- for instance, she's lived in LA for about 10 years (that confused us, because her brand of black comedy seems so New York), and that she wet the bed well into high school (TMI?) The article really heats up towards the end, when it starts exploring her jokes about race and racism. In the interests of continuing our discussion about race here on Gothamist, check a few of them out:
I, this past summer, sent fifteen really fun cowl-neck sweaters to this village in Africa, in really fun colors—expecting nothing, by the way—and they culled their money together, whatever they call it, and bought a stamp and sent me a postcard thanking me, and it said thank you and that they had enough sweaters for every single member of the village to get one and that they were delicious.I was raped by a doctor... which is so bittersweet for a Jewish girl.
Everybody blames the Jews for killing Christ, and then the Jews try to pass it off on the Romans. I’m one of the few people that believe it was the blacks.
I got in trouble for saying the word “Chink” on a talk show, a network talk show. It was in the context of a joke. Obviously. That’d be weird. That’d be a really bad career choice if it wasn’t. But, nevertheless, the president of an Asian-American watchdog group out here in Los Angeles, his name is Guy Aoki, and he was up in arms about it and he put my name in the papers calling me a racist, and it hurt. As a Jew—as a member of the Jewish community—I was really concerned that we were losing control of the media. Right? What kind of a world do we live in where a totally cute white girl can’t say “Chink” on network television? It’s like the fifties. It’s scary... there are only two Asian people that I know that I have any problem with, at all. One is, uh, Guy Aoki. The other is my friend Steve, who actually went pee-pee in my Coke. He’s all, ‘Me Chinese, me play joke.’ Uh, if you have to explain it, Steve, it’s not funny.
Lots of people find these jokes pretty offensive, because they don't see a difference between a joke about racism and racism itself. Sarah's work seems pretty hilarious to us-- what do you think?
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I think TMFTML took care of Miss Silverman.
The world was a much better place before right wing political correctness destroyed freedom of expression. Sarah is awesome, get the fuck over it.
(being a native NY'er, "fuck" is applicable in all contexts, of course)
The world was a much better place before right wing political correctness destroyed freedom of expression. Sarah is awesome, get the fuck over it.
(being a native NY'er, "fuck" is applicable in all contexts, of course)
Sara Silverman's absolutely delightful. Though she really needs to work on new material - she's been telling the material from Jesus Is Magic for a few years now.
What do I think? I think that Gothamist is pretty obviously whoring for ad impressions here. Snore.
Stay within your strengths, kids. Next time, try more panda pictures. Or something about Jerry Orbach. Every time you try to get cutting-edgey political, you just end up looking like grasping poseurs.
She's never been funny, just decently connected. Not many people can do race humor and truly be clever. She makes jokes, but never seems to make any point with them. When she is ready to put her heart and mind into her work and not go for the hackneyed "Hey, I'm a Jew!" and shock humor, maybe other people will begin to appreciate her. Other than that, she's a hack and hasn't ever been funny to me. I should know...I worked with her. :)
her sequence in the aristocrats is excellent.
She's not so great. She got attention a few years ago for daring to mention racial slurs in her jokes. Fine, but I would have expected some growth and maturation from a young comic. She's doing the same thing she did then. Yawn.
I for one have had about enough of the chinks and kikes in new york.
just to respond to the whoring angle-- Gothamist only gets about 250 comments a day, max-- that's vs. the 100,000 or so ad impressions we run on the site per day. so we're not asking for responses b/c we think it'll drive up ad impressions (it won't)-- we ask b/c we genuinely are interested in what people think about race.
Let's face it-- you can't get away with an off-color race joke without good looks and charisma. Fortunately for Sarah she has a little bit of both. Unfortunately she's made a career of milking that bit far beyond what most people can tolerate.
she's STILL talking about that "chink" jury joke??
she's not pretty nor funny.
I think we're missing the point, here. She's making jokes "against racism" by poking fun at upper-middle class white women. And what better person to make fun of UMCWW than a fellow UMCWW? She may not be so subtle and that can seem like she's trying to be "in your face" which can get old, but the point is that most racism that comes from UMCWW isn't very subtle either, but is usually dismissed as "inadvertant," "accidental," and "unintentional." I hope her material will grow with maturity, but for right now, it works for me.
sarah silverman is pretty funny (those jokes excerpted above are really funny) and fairly pretty (though the picture above is not the most flattering), but those are only my subjective judgments. i can't really accept at face value assessments of her beauty that are accompanied by this moralistic disapproval of "racist" humor.
i think how you feel about this kind of stuff really depends on whether you grew up hearing and/or telling racial jokes, and whether you're currently comfortable discussing race in a "real" (as in "keeping it real"?) kind of way.
i was an avid consumer of dirty joke books in junior high, each of which had a whole chapter of blatantly racist humor, and i shared the jokes with my white friends, one of whom was a wimpy little jewish kid who, like me, got hassled by bigger kids (most of whom were black), and another whose dad was in the kkk (really). my little mestizo dad was actually afraid of black people, and uttered the word "nigger" with sad, stupid sincerity. i learned from t.v. shows like gimme a break and diff'rent strokes, however, that racism was bad, and i therefore thought my dad was a racist asshole. but i always thought the idea that racist jokes could cause or perpetuate racism pretty silly.
racism, racist stereotypes, racial discrimination, judging books by covers, etc., all that exists, and whether you can joke about it or not sort of depends on how comfortable you are admitting that. easy as it is to label race joke killjoys "p.c.," it fits: although it probably isn't okay to tell these non-p.c. jokes, say, at your job, there are contexts in which it's appropriate to abandon p.c. convention -- e.g., standup comedy. the critique of this p.c. censorship is that even if no one ever told a black joke, black people would still be a hugely socially and economically disadvantaged class, we just wouldn't be allowed to acknowledge that fact with anything more than grim resignation. (check out the great, humorous commentary on race in curb your enthusiasm, by the way.)
i've had enough of the jews in new york
i've had enough of the jews in new york
sarah rocks, and andrew you're only half right; the PC police come from the left, they always seem to know what's best for us and who not to offend.
Two things I know:
1 - i'm a chink
2 - sarah silverman is funny
thatzall!
Three things I know:
1-chink is a funny word
2-sarah is a funny girl
3-people take things way too seriously; and they're taking the fun out of life.
As an Asian, I can tell you that anytime someone busts out the "chink" word, it is immediately offensive. It took me a while before I could deal with my Asian friends using it without provoking an emotional response. It is a very charged word, therefore anyone who is considering using it should first think carefully about who their audience is and how it will be received. If they are certain that their audience will get the humor and see that there is no racist intent, then they should go ahead and use it. (Note to white people: are you SURE your audience doesn't mind?) If they don't care how their audience will react, then they risk being insensitive, callous, racist assholes.
And a final comment on Sarah Silverman: while I do think her humor is funny, it's important to note that being Jewish (as a historically oppressed group) does not automatically grant her entree to do Asian jokes, or black jokes, or general-people-of-color jokes.
nyjewboy,
There's left wing PC and there's right wing PC (forgetting for a moment that the right wing invented the concept of "PC" as a catchall for things they don't like but can't find a coherent argument against).
Right wing PC is avoiding any mention of institutionalized or subtle racism and pretending that racism is a dead issue in this country, something that only the "PC police" brings up.
3 things I know:
1) I'm a dago.
2) dago is a funny word.
3) Sarah Silverman is not funny.
Someone please tell me why the Slopes are such bad drivers, please.
Thank you.
Silverman is excused because she's (for the industry) cute. If Rosie Barr did this sort of stuff people wouldn't have it. How about Andrew Dice Clay doing racism jokes? Nobody ever said that he was "fighting racism" (or any other number fo things) and it's because he was male and looked like a goombah (whoops.) Silverman gets a break (and credit) for all the wrong reasons.
Mister Blue,
Same reason that honkies from suburbs are bad drivers
She's really not funny. Nor pretty.
How is being "raped by a doctor" funny?
PC is a catchall for things conservatives can't find a coherent argument against? You have it backwards. People on the right are happy to discuss racism or homophobia, but PC types on the left don't want those discussions to include any reference to crime rates, children out of wedlock, diseases, etc. PC is their way to shut out any unpleasant information. If anyone tries to shut down some silly comic it will probably be a sanctimonious left winger.
All this and she plays poker. :::heart heart heart:::
the difference between left-wing un-pc humor and right-wing un-pc humor is that the former is generally used to get laughs because of how "wrong" the root of the joke is, while the latter is used to justify that wrongness as correct. generally, the former uses a sarcastic tone to say the opposite of what its writer/performer actually means. in print, this tone tends to disappear. the danger is that the line between a joke that is clever because it exposes bigotry, and a joke that capitalizes on that bigotry, can be very thin indeed, especially when played convincingly straight. see andrew dice clay.
the doctor rape joke seems to be a gag on the whole jews/money stereotype, marrying a doctor being a good move for financial security. this puts it in the former category (mocking this unemotional and offensive way of looking at relationships), although the mention of rape, just about the worst thing that can be done to anyone, really pushes the limits of good taste - which is part of the point i suppose.
sarah silverman is, imo, pretty cute and pretty funny, neither more nor less.
PC is the vehicle by which all the self-hating lefty's can apologize for all the terrible injustices commtited against all the defenseless victims in our poor society. sob sob...run on - run on......
Follow-up question:
Why do the Chinks always stand on a 14 against a 5 in blackjack?
follow-follow-up question; why do all the chinks in chinatown blow snot out of their noses on the sidewalk?
random question: why do so many black people read The Post? I see it all the time on the subway. Are they not aware of the obvious conservatism and latent racism of the paper. Hmm
because 'black' people are smarter than niggers, and they realize that for all its tabloidish effect, the post generally gets it right.
YOU'RE ALL WRONG!
The PC movement was originally a republican political campaign which attacked the lose morals of the raging 20's, blaming the collapse of the economy on such behavior. It was revitalized by the Reagan administration thought the concept of "family values" with the stance that the right was better than the left, due to their tolerance of unethical types. PC thinking is fascism in disguise.
END OF STORY.
Mister Blue,
Same reason Crackers always hit on a 20 against a 5 in blackjack
P.S.
Those on the left who foster the PC movement simply don't know their history and are obviously poorly educated.
(pardon my typo in the last comment)
PC is nothing but the self-righteous left trying not to offend anyone; unless it serves their own purpose that is...
Andrew knows his history... and you are wrong.
You all know Sarah is digging this so much; so if you're reading this babe, when narco-jimmy nods out give me a call because I would just love to bang the shit out of you. My mom would love you too!
You all know Sarah is digging this so much; so if you're reading this babe, when narco-jimmy nods out give me a call because I'm in love with you!
Oh and another thing; Andrew is an idiot!
i_heart_sarah, check your history books before you point fingers... idiot.
One thing that is very obvious... EVERYONE FUCKING HATES PC THINKING, left version or right version. Have a fucking opinion, be an asshole... etc.
andrew must be a nigger...he sure is stoopid
god bless the internet.
Andrew can't wait until all you fucking idiots die of your own stupidity. All I ask is, please allow me to be the one to pull the trigger. PLEASE!
Done, thank you... man I fucking hate people. Yes, all people... I don't care what color you are. We're all just a dumb bunch of monkeys who should be killed to spare the universe our presence.
Every last one of us.
:)
I think she's hot.... then again, I have thing for Jewish girls.
There's nothing to "get over". Her comedy is about the sillyness of racism and of stereotypes. Your exhortations to "get over it" demonstrate that you take her seriously and that you have some social issues you should work through... (perhaps begin by burning your Klan card...)
I'm with Dirk, I love Jewish girls. Though must say, I'm not a big fan of the circumcised clitorises.
Andrew unfortunately because of the over-regulation imposed by your lefty friends, you will be unable to use a gun for your violent solution. Perhaps you can grab a handful of hemp, and grease it up with some soy and find a way to exact your revenge upon the 'masses'.
i should like sarah silverman because i think being a woman comic is super hard and mainstream comedy is a super boys club--with a few admirable exceptions, and even some funny ones, notably the ladies of snl--but i find silverman annoying and not that funny. i guess i still admire her though.
Jeez when I hear Tucker Carlson and Bill Oreilly say the country is moving to the right I always easily dismiss that notion think it's just predictable cliche hyperbole.
However, after reading these comments, it appears, that the red states are not the only ones with sticks up their asses.
No matter what you think of her, if you see her in the Aristocrats she easily redeems herself.
Now as for her popularity, how come the arians haven't commented on the Jews controlling the media? Me I'm not a conspiracy theorist, she's hot and funny, that's why she has been so successful. For e.g. the overweight chink that whines alot on stage is def. not funny or pretty, hence I can't evne remember her name.
P.S. The above was for shock value
As for Sarah Silverman, all I have to say about her schtick is: the day I, as a black guy, can run around the country and use the word Kike in a lot of my jokes, and get exposure and laughs, that's the day I'll think it's okay for her to say the word chink so freely. That day is never. It will never be okay for a non-white comedian to run around stages and use the word KIKE freely.
Jake, I'm disappointed. Would you really be okay if you were sitting at a comedy club next to your friend Jen and someone starting going on about Koreans, chinks, kimchee, etc. and making Engrish jokes, and maybe even singled Jen out in the crowd. No, I don't think you'd find it very funny. I also can't imagine many jews in new york taking any joke with the word kike in it as casually as people seem to be taking chink here.
You guys need a wash.
That guy Carlos Mencia (Mind of Mencia) makes pretty horrible race jokes and he's latino, so Flanagan, I think your point is moot.
carlos mencia??? did he say "kike"?
I suggest people google mencia, first off he's not mexican, second, he steals jokes.
unless there are racial slurs for hondurans.
andrew dice clay
redd foxx
ebony and ivory, and filthy, and racial, and unforgiving, and relentless.
throw in eddie murphy and chris rock too
everybody just needs to shut the fuck up and laugh...
white jewsih boy
She's the kind of person who's like "See I just dissed my entire race so It's okay if I diss yours cause I just said my ass was hairy cause I'm Jewish so that makes me saying CHINK alright". Her logic is the suck.
She is not funny. There is plenty to laugh at without being offensive. Words like "chink" or any other racial epithets are not cool.
I'd be down with her take-no-prisoners schtick if it actually was funny. Margaret Cho does so much better.
margaret cho just wishes she was a chink.
Why does anyone give a shit what silverman has to say? She's just an entertainer.
I think she's funny. You think she's racist. Someone else thinks she's not funny and a hack.
We'll see who wins.
At the same time as it can be sort of funny and everything, it's too bad becuase there are still people in this world that are very hurt by racism everyday, and there may be this weird attitude of oh, we are not racist, whatever, we are so up there that we can laugh about it, but I think that that is just ignorant. It may have got her a few laughs and whatever all this money and fame --- well I think she should share some of her money with some chinese immigrants struggling against horrible and unfair odds today.
I like Sara, She's funny and hot looking too. The only thing that bugs me about her is she dates Jimmy Kimmel! : )
The question is....what's NOT funny about rape?
The more you hate who you are, the more a slur against you will sting.
i've never found the word kike offensive... it sort of reminds me of cake or a kite, both of which i like.
Karlik4
I am a product of an invasion. The invasion of Christopher Columbus. For all you ignorant individuals who lack education, read a history book. Columbus raped, burned, tortured and eliminated the Native Americans that lived in the island where I was born. Then he brought African Americans (not by their choice) to work as slaves. If you have the audacity to support someone that actually create racist jokes about blacks and Hispanics then obviously you are not educated. Sara Silverman – get a real job! I speak of the Hispanic race and I am not here because I want too…I am here because my ancestors were forced to live here and with time, I was created. The only logical explanation to Sara Silverman’s behavior is her lack of self-esteem, and not being able to find work with integrity. Two wrongs don’t make a right – however, today I will make the exception. Sara Silverman should be whipped, stoned, forced to bite into cement, raped by 20 Jewish men, have a metal pole be inserted up her ass 100 times until her ass splits into two. Then, have a comedian joke about her experience. I think this will be a fantastic idea!! You know what I mean!!! Cool. . .
schoolgirls in pantyhose pantyhose shemale
free bondage bdsm mpg bdsm + hardcore + fetish+ female submissives
People need to stop oversimplifying.
If you can't see the difference between a racist joke and a joke about racism, then you are hopeless.
Silverman's jokes about upper middle class white girl racism have the potential to be very biting social critiques. Sometimes they land and sometimes they don't. And a couple times they cease to be about racism and just lazily indulge in racism. But only a couple times, and not the times most of the people here are complaining about.
The 'I love chinks' joke, for instance, is a smart critique of white liberal racism.
She's not funny nor pretty. She's the funny version of a "shock jock". Old news. been done to death, no one cares.
period.
Stacey London of TLC's what not to wear has more wit, style and humour.
thank you very much.