This is a very old topic really. The only thing that seemed new is the long, inside look at the annual convention of the National Association for Campus Activities, through which many entertainers get hired and which doesn't work as a channel into paid employment for comedians who seem at all politically incorrect. For example, one comedian got laughs with the idea of a "sassy black friend":
But afterward, two white students from an Iowa college shook their heads: no. He was “perpetuating stereotypes,” one of them said, firmly. “We’re a very forward-thinking school,” she told me. “That thing about the ‘sassy black friend’? That wouldn’t work for us.” Many others, apparently, felt the same way: Yee ended up with 18 bookings—a respectable showing, but hardly a reflection of the excitement in the room when he performed.I don't know why anyone would expect something as bureaucratic as the National Association for Campus Activities to bring anything edgy and transgressive into town. That doesn't mean students don't know find transgressive things funny, just that they're staying out of trouble. And why court trouble over "sassy black friend" — which is just an old stereotype, eliciting an easy laugh? It's not the Lenny Bruce line of comedy that really challenges people! It's comfortable, careless, and silly.
Would Lenny Bruce seek approval and income through the National Association for Campus Activities? No. He wouldn't even try. And that's not because the students wouldn't find him funny. They would. And so would the professors. But he'd have to find a different path to reach them, and he wouldn't whine about that! He'd want to be rejected by the bureaucratic filters of the National Association for Campus Activities. I think. I don't know. He's dead. I'm just using his rotting corpse in a manner he's in no position to refute.
Flanagan says:
If your goal were simply to bring great comics to a college campus, it would be easily accomplished. You would gather the school’s comedy nerds, give them a budget, and tell them to book the best acts they could afford.Who's the "you" here? The university administration? That's all so wrong-headed, handing $$$ to students who somehow could be identified as the "comedy nerds" and letting them choose "the best."
If you wanted to bring great comedy to college students, you'd open a comedy club near campus and operate entirely independently and beholden to nobody.
ADDED: Previously on this blog: "Why did Caitlin Flanagan write such a poorly supported article on fraternities and rape?"
And why did the Wall Street Journal publish it? Was there a whole lot more material in the original article, which was then edited down to make Flanagan look utterly ridiculous?
It begins with the description of one horrible crime. It ends with Flanagan describing her own fear of men. It's lurid and emotional to tell us about one woman's victimization and another woman's feelings, but where's the support for Flanagan's proposition that fraternities should be shut so that women can achieve equality on campus?...
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20 comments:
Colleges used to be the place to break the rules. Now the slightest affront is an emergency. Remember way back when, a couple of guys got disciplined for calling a couple of girls 'water buffaloes? The beginning of the end. Today you truly are allowed to think only proper thoughts. Violations will be punished swiftly and severely.
Most universities hold pep rallys of one form or another and bring in outside talent to keep them lively. No outside talent, no pep rally that people actually want to attend.
But still...gotta love that, "it's easy, all you do is..." followed by something totally unworkable.
Iowan2, one of my favorite lines from South Park was spoken by Chef: "children, there's a time and a place for everything and it's called college."
As you say, once upon a time that was true.
I dunno, "sassy black friend" is pretty tired shtick.
When I was in college in the 70's, our campus hosted Cheech and Chong, Professor Irwin Corey, David Frye, and Uncle Dirty. There were probably others, but those I remember.
I'm just grateful I went to college so I could find out that The Canterbury Tales contains some real knee-slappers.
"But afterward, two white students from an Iowa college shook their heads: no. He was 'perpetuating stereotypes,' one of them said, firmly. 'We’re a very forward-thinking school,' she told me. 'That thing about the "sassy black friend"? That wouldn’t work for us.”
"White students from an Iowa college" being sanctimoniously "progressive" about race from their sea of whiteness - mother-lode of comedy gold right there.
We should have known college kids were losing their sense of humor when so many insisted that The Daily Show was hilarious.
The upper tier colleges have 2 types: kids with 4.5 GPAs who work extremely hard, but aren't well-rounded and Leftists.
Neither group is known for their side-splitting sense of humor.
Where is John Belushi in Animal House when you really need him?
Why would anyone read what Jenner wrote ?
"White students from an Iowa college"
Anglelyne,
My money's on Grinnell.
A lot of students have a sense of humor. The trick is being funny. A lot of professors are funny, and make class time more engaging.
A lot of comedians aren't funny, they conflate being crude with being funny.
The college circuit probably weeds out the unfunny comedians who don't have any wit to carry them farther.
"Remember way back when, a couple of guys got disciplined for calling a couple of girls 'water buffaloes?"
Just Rosie O'Donnell.
Related.
I am Laslo.
Geez, always dumb down men to achieve equality for women. Can't women shape up their sororities instead of making them little houses to attract men? Without fraternities, those little women would have no place to go.
"But still...gotta love that, "it's easy, all you do is..." followed by something totally unworkable."
Who said it's easy?
I said if you want edgy, transgressive comedy, you need to operate independently, not that it's easy. It's certainly not "unworkable." It's the standard way comedy has developed in this country.
As for how to attract students to pep rallies... why should someone who cares about good transgressive comedy give a fuck about pep rallies?!
Althouse,
I read tim maguire as referring to the Flanagan quote you enbedded. He's agreeing with you.
And that's not because the students wouldn't find him [Lenny Bruce] funny. They would. And so would the professors.
Not even remotely true, and I'm surprised at your naiveté, Professor. We're in the 21st century, as you might have noticed, and in the 21st century a small number of students and professors would angrily insist that they were incensed and the material was hateful and Lenny would need to be banned. And so he would be.
Welcome to the century you and your fellow liberal faculty members created. Tell us how you like it here.
For example, one comedian got laughs with the idea of a "sassy black friend"
I wouldn't tolerate that either. A lot of my friends are sassy.
How long as this association been vetting what university student associations could hire?
I ask because back in the early '80s, the University of North Carolina invited three speakers (all of which I heard): Daniel Berrigan, Louis Farrakhan, and G. Gordon Liddy.
All spoke their piece, all took questions, no one raised a fuss (except to report on their speeches).
All were paid from student fees, from a council run by students.
Of course, we were allowed to drink, too. No trigger warnings or safe rooms for those of tender sensibilities.
Treat students like children, don't be surprised if they act like children.
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