DCM controversial monologue

Tommy Todd

Tommy Todd

Daring Aristocrat
#1
#1
So, I know lots of you saw it, or barring that, read about it in the billion blogs it showed up in. During ASSSSCAT, an improviser gave a monologue that seemed to elude to a rape story.

Thoughts?

I have some, and somewhat know the guy (we've ran into each other a few times at shows/after shows), but what are your thoughts, not just about him, but how UCB handled the show going forward?
 
B

BGulya

New Member
#5
#5
Hey guys, I honestly don't think this is the place to discuss this. I'm not doubting anyone's intelligence or maturity, and the subject of what a comedian's job is in this type of situation is interesting, but we have seen more than a million examples of smart people both misunderstanding and being misunderstood when it comes to discussing sensitive things in writing.

Something beyond awful happened. And it would be offensive and inappropriate for it to be the subject of the next big irc thread.
 
M

mikelibrarian

Lost in the stacks.
#7
#7
jayrevis said:
Where is the place to discuss it? Just curious.
Click to expand...
Mustang Sally's, Triple Crown, basically anywhere where the people you are speaking to can see your face, hear your tone and ask you for clarification and get it immediately without five other people jjumping in and saying what you really meant.
 
J

jayrevis

New Member
#8
#8
mikelibrarian said:
Mustang Sally's, Triple Crown, basically anywhere where the people you are speaking to can see your face, hear your tone and ask you for clarification and get it immediately without five other people jjumping in and saying what you really meant.
Click to expand...
That's definitely a valid concern. I've read threads here where that happened and I've been misunderstood and offended someone unintentionally on the internet, so I get it. But it still makes me sad. The most sensitive topics are often the ones that are most worthy of discussion, and an internet forum has a much wider reach than a face-to-face bar conversation. Not that I would expect to solve the world's problems on an internet discussion board, but still...if we hide from uncomfortable situations how do we further ourselves and our thinking? Aren't some topics worth making ourselves uncomfortable, and asking each other to explain, defend, or even rethink our positions?

But if that's the rule I'll comply without (further) complaint.
 
W

Way2Jeff

Member
#10
#10
And it would be offensive and inappropriate for it to be the subject of the next big irc thread.
Click to expand...
I disagree with this. This is the place where we talk about things that happen and affect the improv community. This is one of those things. Not all of us get to McManus with any sort of regularity, and maybe people in other cities want to share their thoughts too. I'd hate to think that anything weightier than bat vaginas or cat adoption is banned from the IRC.
 
Holmes

Holmes

of the Rare Bird Show
#13
#13
I'll say this:

The discussion of the monologue reads as much different from actually watching the video of the monologue.
 
El Jefe

El Jefe

latitudinarian
Staff member
#14
#14
I'm all for open discussion, and didn't mean to imply that I wasn't. It's just that I've already seen discussions about that devolve into poorly thought out screamfests about what is and isn't rape, whether the guy was making up any or all of his story, etc. I don't think this is the place to discuss that aspect of the story, especially when we hopefully all agree that rape is terrible and this guy is the worst.

I think it's pretty valid for us to discuss what comedians should do in a situation like this, where audience participation goes horribly wrong. Just keep in mind that the comedians on stage didn't have the benefit of hindsight.
 
A

amn

philanthro-capitalist
#15
#15
I just think of that passage in Truth in Comedy where it gives performers license to opt out of a suggestion if they don't like it. I think the example in the book is the suggestion of "hemorrhoids" and it says the performers are within their rights to say something to the effect of "while we can certainly use that suggestion, do you really want to see 30 minutes of hemorrhoids?".

I didn't see the show but apparently the UCB made fun of the guy in the set which is what I've seen at Roo Roo shows when the audience member is lying or is generally an asshole. I don't know how else you'd be expected to handle it other than have the guy thrown out or ask for a new monolouge or both. Maybe call him out on if it's bullshit and interrogate him in front of everyone.
 
D

DanAbrams

Never Wears Cargo Shorts
#18
#18
Obviously, this guy Lee thinks it's funny to talk about vaginal bats, which are a very serious disease, as he admits in this video he wrote.

And yeah, the video made me laugh, but I'm still offended by it. I'm ashamed to admit this, but I have vaginal bats.

I'm not saying Lee should go to jail, that's for the authorities to decide. I'm just saying it's hard to be a Vaginal Bat sufferer in this community, when you look around on stage and there are no other sufferers, and yet they make all sorts of videos as if the idea of small, blind, flying mammals emitted from a human vagina was funny.

I don't want this to be the place we talk about it though. I think it's too controversial for this venue.
 
D

dcjohn

New Member
#19
#19
Two troupe mates of mine gave other monologues during the show (the "uh oh" hand job and the grotesquely broken toe) that were completely eclipsed by the rape-o-logue. Bastard!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top