Isn’t Racism ‘Gran’?
With Skip Gates, President Obama Seargent Crowley sharing a cold one today, I’d like to take this time to talk about the movie “Gran Torino” and the issue of race.
Clint Eastwood, a man I would be afraid to cross in a dark alley.
While the Clint Eastwood directed film definitely had it’s share of problems, the Grizzled One did an impeccable job playing a character I can’t help but feel Eastwood is like in real life. A grumpy, perpetually displeased curmudgeon, Eastwood’s character is a man stuck in the past and disappointed with the present. He’s also incredibly racist.
In fact, walking out of the movie, the thing I took away the most was my newfound library of racial slurs and epithets. Eastwood’s character spewed at least a couple dozen slurs that I had never heard before —most targeting the Asian community.
As I sat in the audience, I was shocked to hear the audience laughing each time Eastwood called his Asian neighbors names too horrible to repeat here. I hate to admit the fact that I frequently found myself laughing too.
Why are racial stereotypes so prevalently utilized in comedy? More so, why do so many people find them funny?
I do not believe that Eastwood, as a filmmaker, intended his slurs to play as comedic banter. In fact, I believe the majority of the audience, myself included, laughed more out of shock value then the actual wittiness of the slur. Seeing an actor like Eastwood let loose a flurry of racially tinged obscenities is jarring. Jarring situations are oftentimes met with laughter. It’s scientifically proven or something.
But what about the comedians who do use racism for humor purposes? Carlos Mencia has built a career out of tearing down his own nationality. Interesting side note — did you know that Carlos Mencia’s real name is Ned? Ned Mencia. Did he feel he had to “Mexicanize” his first name in order to get away with saying such blatantly hateful things?
I don’t want it to seem like I’m tubthumping from on top of my sacred pedestal. It would be a lie to say that I’ve never laughed at a racist joke. It’d be an even bigger lie to say I’ve never told one.
In fact, I don’t think I know a single guy who has never laughed at or told a racist joke. Does that mean that I’m surrounded by racists? The fact that the country elected a black president would say otherwise.
I don’t believe laughing or telling racist jokes makes you a hatemonger. It seems to be a natural human condition to want to poke fun at your ancestry – as if to point out how far you’ve come. I’m sure that cavemen were telling monkey jokes as they passed around a turtleshell of fermented fruit juice.
I’ve found that the types of racially based humor I tend to appreciate and enjoy are the jokes that use racism to make fun of racists. By exaggerating racial stereotypes until they reach critical mass and become absurd, you turn the joke on its head and laugh at ignorance instead of laughing because of it.
Looking back at what I’ve written, I’m not sure exactly what I set out to say. This blog has no moral and by writing it, I’ve come to no conclusion. At the end of this page, I did not reach any epiphany and I’m sure I will continue to laugh at racist jokes. Won’t you join me?
Robert
enjoyed the read. thought the movie was actually pretty darned good. i bought into all the characters. yeah i get the impression eastwood is really like the Torino character as well. Racism happens and in the perfect world we wouldnt have to discuss.
Causation is varied, but it is important to note racism is an equal oportunity affliction. Maybe we can talk sometime. what are the causes? what is the cure?
blessings