In my past experiences, a lot of comedy documentaries consciously try to prevent the stereotypes of documentary film making, probably as a way to accentuate the "outsiderness" of comedy. So For what reason We Have fun: Black Comedians on Black Comedy shines as being an old-fashioned documentary regarding African-American comedy and its part in community.
That premise may not precisely glow, and also documentary starts with a wide range of conversation regarding the value of hilarity as being a coping mechanism within the black society - "laugh to keep from sobbing," as one panelist puts it. Right now, the show comes with the potential to become a tiresome ride.
The good news is that, the film immediately picks up vapor, diving directly into genre's history by showing outstanding black comedians on the last 100 years. Beginning with the days of minstrels and also blackface, it sweeps thru original film roles, sitcoms, and also stand-ups right through to the present day.
The movie utilizes well-known faces to characterize numerous eras of African-American culture. It argues that black comedians such as Stepin Fetchit and also Amos & Andy, who may have been perpetuating black stereotypes by simply performing lazy or even mistrustful personalities, had been simply working within the boundaries with their time, as well as ultimately opening the threshold for future black comedians.
From there, the doc looks at a stellar, if foreseeable, line of comedians - Redd Foxx, Flip Wilson, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and Whoopi Goldberg. The movie at the same time exhibits monumental institutions just like Apollo Theater, In Living Color, and the Original Kings of Comedy.
For anyone who, like me, knows not much regarding the earlier years of black comedy, this movie is extremely informative. Specifically exciting is Dick Gregory, a stand-up and civil right activist who worked well with Martin Luther King Jr. and was basically the first black invitee to lay on the sofa on Jack Paar's Tonight Show.
Given its reverence towards the background of black comedy, the actual film is extremely amazing on much of the present black comedy scene, calling out popular black comedy for its shallowness, unnecessary vulgarity, and lack of social commentary. The film instead celebrates Dave Chappelle together with Cosby's prominent Pound Cake speech.
Why Most people Laugh reminds me most of a PBS documentary, with that soothing discussing head type that we all know and like and rested through in the school. Nevertheless in spite of the academic demonstration, it still got me excited with regards to a genre of comedy I didn't fully understand much about, and eager to spend an obscene amount of cash on classic comedy records.
When it comes to black comedians, there are many hilarious, notable names.
That premise may not precisely glow, and also documentary starts with a wide range of conversation regarding the value of hilarity as being a coping mechanism within the black society - "laugh to keep from sobbing," as one panelist puts it. Right now, the show comes with the potential to become a tiresome ride.
The good news is that, the film immediately picks up vapor, diving directly into genre's history by showing outstanding black comedians on the last 100 years. Beginning with the days of minstrels and also blackface, it sweeps thru original film roles, sitcoms, and also stand-ups right through to the present day.
The movie utilizes well-known faces to characterize numerous eras of African-American culture. It argues that black comedians such as Stepin Fetchit and also Amos & Andy, who may have been perpetuating black stereotypes by simply performing lazy or even mistrustful personalities, had been simply working within the boundaries with their time, as well as ultimately opening the threshold for future black comedians.
From there, the doc looks at a stellar, if foreseeable, line of comedians - Redd Foxx, Flip Wilson, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and Whoopi Goldberg. The movie at the same time exhibits monumental institutions just like Apollo Theater, In Living Color, and the Original Kings of Comedy.
For anyone who, like me, knows not much regarding the earlier years of black comedy, this movie is extremely informative. Specifically exciting is Dick Gregory, a stand-up and civil right activist who worked well with Martin Luther King Jr. and was basically the first black invitee to lay on the sofa on Jack Paar's Tonight Show.
Given its reverence towards the background of black comedy, the actual film is extremely amazing on much of the present black comedy scene, calling out popular black comedy for its shallowness, unnecessary vulgarity, and lack of social commentary. The film instead celebrates Dave Chappelle together with Cosby's prominent Pound Cake speech.
Why Most people Laugh reminds me most of a PBS documentary, with that soothing discussing head type that we all know and like and rested through in the school. Nevertheless in spite of the academic demonstration, it still got me excited with regards to a genre of comedy I didn't fully understand much about, and eager to spend an obscene amount of cash on classic comedy records.
When it comes to black comedians, there are many hilarious, notable names.
About the Author:
To learn more, you need to have a look at my web page: http://www.blackcomedians.net.
No comments:
Post a Comment