I'm reading this in the Wisconsin State Journal:
A local feminist organization plans to protest comedian Louis C.K.’s performances at Comedy on State next week, while seven female comics are offering counter-programming at Bos Meadery on Madison’s Near East Side.
C.K. faced public shaming in 2017, at the height of the #MeToo movement, after he admitted to masturbating in front of five female comedians after years of denying rumors about that behavior.
“Join us in the streets outside the venue July 25-27th during Louis C.K.’s performances to let Comedy on State know he’s not welcome here!” the Socialist Feminist Working Group of the Madison Area Democratic Socialists of America said in a social media post.
That is, you have 2 choices, not including actually getting in to see Louis, whose shows all sold out quickly. You can join the socialism feminists in the street outside the the comedy club, downtown. Or you can head out to the "meadery" on East Washington for the alternative comedy show, which I see is called "Babe-apalooza" (not to be confused with babesiosis).
Is it good feminism these days to use the word "babe"?
"Masturbating in front of five female comedians"... There were five of them? At the same time? Or is that just how the newspaper prose makes it sound? If he was really masturbating in front of five female comedians, you'd think they'd have destroyed him with their comedy powers right then and there.
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5 comments:
Temujin writes:
"So Madisonians have a choice. They can go see actual comedy, via Louis CK. Or they can go see what I'm guessing is anti-male humor and jokes that include vaginas. (because who doesn't like a night full of vagina references to make you laugh). The idea being 'counter programming'. I'm sure every great comedian- man and woman alike- uses the concept of 'counter programming' when writing humor.
"Or you can stand in the street with the Socialist Feminist Working Group, which seems a misnomer because Socialists are known for a lot of things, but working is not one of them.
"So- funny humor. Attacking 'humor'. Or tear down the Capitalist patriarchal system.
"The choice seems clear. Good luck, Madison. And thank God the large issues don't get in your way."
Lem writes:
"“after years of denying rumors about that behavior.”
"The reason why it might have taken “years” to come to light is that CK says he asked the women if they were ok with it and apparently they said yes. Which then begs the question. Could their approval have something to do with the unequal relationship between a well known comedian who could advance their carriers?
"Never mind. I have nothing to say. Except for I still find his material funny."
Charlie writes:
""Socialist Feminist Working Group of the Madison Area Democratic Socialists of America”
"That sounds like something Paddy Chayefsky would have written into a movie"
Nathan writes:
"I wonder if Mr. C.K. holds the record for the number of female comics masturbated in front of by a male comic in one sitting. It seems like I do remember there being more than one observer at one time on at least one occasion when I first heard about this story. Let's just say there were actually five at one time rather than singles and doubles. It would be interesting for recognition to be given to the category of female comics who have masturbated in front of groups of male comics, as well. I predict that the female comics probably have the largest number of observers. It seems to me much more likely to find large groups of males watching a female masturbate. Comic men have likely paid for female comics to masturbate. Would the comic men have been exploiting the woman or would she be an empowered sex worker? Both? Would Mr. C.K. be vindicated if the women had paid him to masturbate? So many questions...."
Louis writes:
"The whole Louis C.K. thing hit me as odd. As a comedian, part of his act was to present himself as a flawed human being and people found that funny. (And were willing to pay to see his act.) Then there was a news report about him masturbating in front a group of female comics who had come to his room and outrage followed. From what I understand, he asked for their permission first and they agreed, but then people started saying that they couldn't, technically, agree to that because he had "authority" over them. That also hit me as odd. They didn't work for him, but the case was made that he could use his influence to help their careers. But a lot of people would consider that wrong, too. You should get a gig based on your talents, skills and marketability; not because a celeb put in a good word for you. Given that kind of logic, rich and famous people can never have a sexual encounter with anyone who is less rich or famous than they are.
"In all honesty, if the women had respectfully turned Louis C.K. down that night, would their careers have turned out any different? I can't imagine him taking revenge on them for the rejection because that would definitely negatively affect his career more than the current controversy has. (Plus, it would be personally embarrassing to admit that 1. You asked a group of women if you could masturbate in front of them. and 2. They rejected you. And they still might have gone to the media to say, "He asked us if he could masturbate in front of us and we rejected him."
"As the computer says in the movie War Games, "The only winning move is not to play."
"As to the protests...I suspect that they're only doing it for the media exposure. After all, what do the Socialists have to do sexual harassment in the entertainment industry?
"Back when Andrew Dice Clay was popular, a comedian named Judy Toll did a character named Andrea Dice Clay on Mad TV. It was really funny and did a good job of pointing out some of the things wrong with Andrew Dice Clay's act."
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