In my opinion the Margaret Cho stand- up comedy we watched in class last week was funny, but not for the reason that she mocked the stereo-types that people assume about her and her racial background- but because I felt she was proving how stupid people can look/sound when they stereotype. The point that really brought this home was when she mocked the television announcer who asked her to tell everyone in her native language that they were switching stations, and she then said that line in English... seriously, I would love to know who that announcer was.
I know I am guilty myself of making assumptions, but watching videos like this (and even relating back to our 'where I'm from poems') really makes me want to do my research and educate myself on topics like race and ethnicity. I would be so embarrassed if I made a comment like that television announcer. I think Cho was sending a positive message to everyone through her comedy: if you are stupid enough to make stereotypes, you're going to look stupid doing it, and someday, somewhere people are going to get a huge laugh out of it.
I know I am guilty myself of making assumptions, but watching videos like this (and even relating back to our 'where I'm from poems') really makes me want to do my research and educate myself on topics like race and ethnicity. I would be so embarrassed if I made a comment like that television announcer. I think Cho was sending a positive message to everyone through her comedy: if you are stupid enough to make stereotypes, you're going to look stupid doing it, and someday, somewhere people are going to get a huge laugh out of it.
I completely agree with you. I have always liked Margaret Cho for this reason. She always combats people for "assuming" things about specific people--her "native" origin, and specifically gay people. She is definitely one of the comics that I appreciate and it is probably because she is doing the opposite of what most of them do. Instead of making fun of stereotypes, she makes fun of those who believe in them.
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