DCM controversial monologue
- Thread starter Tommy Todd
- Start date
A serious question- if rape comes about in an improv show, whether in a monologue or in a scene, do we stop the show and publicly and explicitly express that we will not use that subject matter as part of our show? Do male improvisers defer to the female improvisers on stage and does it become their judgment call? Most of us, male or female, have probably not been raped so both genders can be ignorant and clueless about the severity and realistic context of rape. Or do we just push through, continue our show as best and least offensive as we can, then take the post-show hits from people upset that male improvisers referenced rape?
I'm assuming there is no clear answer? If not, do male improvisers just have to take their lumps for being insensitive lumps of coal? Do we just stay quiet and not get involved pre- and post-offense?
I'm assuming there is no clear answer? If not, do male improvisers just have to take their lumps for being insensitive lumps of coal? Do we just stay quiet and not get involved pre- and post-offense?
If it occurred as he said, it was really bad. Some people have said that the prosecution of such should even be looked into authorities (although, thankfully, an ASSSSCAT monologue is not a legal confession, which is good because lots of non-controversial monologues detail illegal activities, such as trespassing and drug use).
But the fact that we're so afraid to talk about it is worrisome to me. Is this something that's off-limits for comedy folks? Too taboo? If comedy's not about exploring taboo's, then what is it about? Are we all really in this just for good, clean laughs? Or do a lot of this do this because we think there are some awful things in the world that need the spotlight turned on them?
Sure, people in scenes all-to-often use rape, hitler, aids, homicide, racism, etc for easy laughs. This works because they have shock value, precisely because they are taboo. But now one of these issues enters our community in a very real way and we're afraid to talk about it publicly.
Obviously there are very strong feelings here. Obviously everyone on these boards thinks rape is really, really wrong. But we're comedians. If we're afraid to talk about our subject among ourselves, what hope do we have of illuminating it for the outside world?
But the fact that we're so afraid to talk about it is worrisome to me. Is this something that's off-limits for comedy folks? Too taboo? If comedy's not about exploring taboo's, then what is it about? Are we all really in this just for good, clean laughs? Or do a lot of this do this because we think there are some awful things in the world that need the spotlight turned on them?
Sure, people in scenes all-to-often use rape, hitler, aids, homicide, racism, etc for easy laughs. This works because they have shock value, precisely because they are taboo. But now one of these issues enters our community in a very real way and we're afraid to talk about it publicly.
Obviously there are very strong feelings here. Obviously everyone on these boards thinks rape is really, really wrong. But we're comedians. If we're afraid to talk about our subject among ourselves, what hope do we have of illuminating it for the outside world?
Men talking about rape is a bit like white people talking about racism. It's not that you couldn't have anything to add to the discussion, but chances are, unless it's affected your life, you can't help but come across to those with more of a stake in the discussion as flippant, ignorant or insensitive.
Several women I've talked to have made the point that a significant number of men, and pretty much only men, have decided for themselves that the monologist was just making up the story. This smacks of wishful thinking at best, and defensive escapism at worst.
As for the depiction of rape in comedy — I don't know. Avoiding shock comedy for its own sake takes discipline. Topics like rape and cancer carry so much weight with an audience, that the payoff in laughter is rarely worth it, especially because it's such a cliché to get a laugh that way. Think about how many people in your audience might actually have been raped, or might love someone who has been raped. Are you really going to fuck up their night of comedy for your shitty "I'm Rapeman!" joke?
That being said, any topic is open game if you have a unique take on it:
(both with audio NSFW)
[youtube]b4hNaFkbZYU[/youtube]
[youtube]zuLrBLxbLxw[/youtube]
Several women I've talked to have made the point that a significant number of men, and pretty much only men, have decided for themselves that the monologist was just making up the story. This smacks of wishful thinking at best, and defensive escapism at worst.
As for the depiction of rape in comedy — I don't know. Avoiding shock comedy for its own sake takes discipline. Topics like rape and cancer carry so much weight with an audience, that the payoff in laughter is rarely worth it, especially because it's such a cliché to get a laugh that way. Think about how many people in your audience might actually have been raped, or might love someone who has been raped. Are you really going to fuck up their night of comedy for your shitty "I'm Rapeman!" joke?
That being said, any topic is open game if you have a unique take on it:
(both with audio NSFW)
[youtube]b4hNaFkbZYU[/youtube]
[youtube]zuLrBLxbLxw[/youtube]
I have been in sets where rape was mentioned off-hand in a context that kept it relatively inoffensive and we skated past it. I've also been in sets where rape was mentioned far too often or graphically for my tastes, and I skated past it hoping the rest of the set would be strong enough to cover for the insensitivity. I have never been in a set like this one where it went on for so long with no redemption. If I were there, I would've liked to see someone stop and call out the elephant in the room and hit some sort of reset button for the comedy.
I don't think you can make a hard and fast rule about it. I think we need to be on personal journeys, each of us, toward becoming better people all the time who are more thoughtful and inclusive and empathetic. If your heart is open and you follow it, you will do the best possible thing you could do in that moment. That was the great failure of the 'political correctness' movement, we thought we could make people better by making them say different words. But it turns out changing your words doesn't change your insides, that's a different much more challenging process that not everyone has the will or imperative to embark upon.
I don't think you can make a hard and fast rule about it. I think we need to be on personal journeys, each of us, toward becoming better people all the time who are more thoughtful and inclusive and empathetic. If your heart is open and you follow it, you will do the best possible thing you could do in that moment. That was the great failure of the 'political correctness' movement, we thought we could make people better by making them say different words. But it turns out changing your words doesn't change your insides, that's a different much more challenging process that not everyone has the will or imperative to embark upon.
This sentence rubbed me the wrong way. You should look into statistics. A lot more women than you think have been raped or assaulted in some way during their lives. Probably 1 out of 4 of your friends that are girls.
Needless to say, YES YES YES this is a fucking touchy subject. I think the only place for this discussion is in person or with a small group on an email chain. I am sick of talking about it and thinking about it and I'm glad that this guy has been "dealt with." I don't want to talk about it anymore. I know that feels like sweeping the subject under the rug, but it's not. It is dismissing this monster for the fuckwad he is and getting on with our civilized lives.
Needless to say, YES YES YES this is a fucking touchy subject. I think the only place for this discussion is in person or with a small group on an email chain. I am sick of talking about it and thinking about it and I'm glad that this guy has been "dealt with." I don't want to talk about it anymore. I know that feels like sweeping the subject under the rug, but it's not. It is dismissing this monster for the fuckwad he is and getting on with our civilized lives.
Rape is a terrible thing.
Coercing someone who's inebriated and not interested into begrudgingly allowing sex to occur (rape) is a terrible thing.
It should be okay to talk about terrible things (and also okay to choose not to).
In improv and in life, you should be unafraid to call out something terrible as terrible.
Coercing someone who's inebriated and not interested into begrudgingly allowing sex to occur (rape) is a terrible thing.
It should be okay to talk about terrible things (and also okay to choose not to).
In improv and in life, you should be unafraid to call out something terrible as terrible.