Comedy is Art

I truly enjoyed the Margaret Cho video that we have been watching in class. She was able to tackle many issues and stereotypes in her comedy. While many don't believe that comedy is an art-form, with this she proved to me that it is. Just like artists push buttons and make people think when showing their artwork, Margaret Cho is doing the same thing with her jokes and funny anecdotes. She tackles stereotypes about her own racial identity as an Asian American, as being a friend to the gay/lesbian community, and even at Hollywood. Her story about her television show was incredibly sad, but she somehow managed to make it funny. Had she not been a comic, could that story have reached so many people? Her comedy makes people think about their own stereotypes towards other people. The news anchor that asked her to speak in her native tongue is an example of this. I wonder how he felt after realizing his mistake. I thought that this was just going to be a fun little comedy show, but in actuality, it really makes you think about your own experiences and to question yourself. I remember watching her on dancing with the stars and while she didn't do so well, I liked her inspiration. Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiW04cQwlYk

Staci Becker Post #12