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Truth is at the core of their comedy

Blowen, M. (1998, May 31). Truth is at the core of their comedy. The Boston Globe, Living Arts, p. 2.

OVERVIEW

This article begins lamenting the lack of good female comics perhaps pushed out by male dominance in this entertainment field. It goes on to highlight three real funny female national comics—two African American and one Latina.

Bertice Berry, interviewed from her San Diego home, had some wonderful insights about humor.

 

‘Comedy is a way to get at the irony and absurdity of so many things. Otherwise you go crazy. Sometimes I get on an airplane and I go first class and someone will say to me, "This is the first class section," without even looking at my ticket. Now, I could get all upset, but its their ignorance that’s the problem, not mine. So why should I let it bother me? I’m not the one handing out peanuts.’

 

Bertice, who has a Ph.D. in sociology from Kent State University, explains how she developed a sense of humor growing up, the sixth of seven children in Wilmington, Delaware.

 

‘My grandmother was blind. She had a boyfriend with two artificial legs, and he couldn’t really walk. To watch the two of them, you had to laugh. I mean my mother was the president of the Black Blind Disabled Senior Citizens of Delaware. The only thing that is not funny is humor that’s exclusionary. If everyone feels they’re in on it, what’s the problem?’

 

Diane Amos remembers when her black mother and her white Jewish woman lover came out of the closet, and that has been the basis for some of her gay humor:

 

‘The material works because it comes out of my love for her....You don’t have to hurt people to be funny. People like to laugh together, so it should be something that brings people together. It shouldn’t separate. What better sound is there than a whole roomful of people laughing?’

 

Marga Gomez, who has starred in "Comedy Night with Whoopi Goldberg" and "Latino Laugh Festival" on Showtime, adds further understanding of humor:

 

‘ "Seinfeld" ended so now we can do comedy about something. Humor is the strongest defense mechanism. That’s why it’s always been used by immigrant groups. But it can be cruel. (Obviously all of these women had the likes of what this author called "the unlamented Andrew Dice Clay" in mind.) It can also be used against minorities. There’s the bully humor where comics beat up on women, gays, Hispanics. That’s the sort of humor that was used against immigrants. But most comedy can’t kill you. Character assassination, maybe. But it’s usually not lethal.

 

Marga, born to a Cuban comedian and a Puerto Rican exotic dancer likes to do comedy that’s more than mere diversion:

 

‘I like (to do comedy) with a bit of a bite, and I like to use material based on truth. This is true. I was in Lost Angeles looking for film work. There were parts for two Latinos in sit-coms this year and they were both taken by Chihuahuas. Anyway, I’m at this party when a high-powered agent comes up to me and introduces herself as Laura. I told her my name is Marga. She said, "Laura, Marga. That rhymes." That’s how smart they are in this business.

 

See additional information under the topic, Women.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

  1. What’s funny to you and what hurts? Why would someone laugh at what really hurts them?
  2. How important are comedians to a society? What role do they play?
  3. Do you agree that comics often come from personal or ethnic pain? Who are your favorite comics? Does your list include any female, minority comedians?
  4. How funny are you? Can one improve their sense of humor and ability to make others laugh?

IMPLICATIONS

  1. If love makes the world go ‘round, it is humor that lubricates the axle.
  2. One can hardly teach or do youthwork without love and humor. Humor that is grounded in love, social awareness, and desire for another’s growth and welfare should not hurt.

Dean Borgman cCYS

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Truth is at the core of their comedy

Blowen, M. (1998, May 31). Truth is at the core of their comedy. The Boston Globe, Living Arts, p. 2.

OVERVIEW

This article begins lamenting the lack of good female comics perhaps pushed out by male dominance in this entertainment field. It goes on to highlight three real funny female national comics—two African American and one Latina.

Bertice Berry, interviewed from her San Diego home, had some wonderful insights about humor.

 

‘Comedy is a way to get at the irony and absurdity of so many things. Otherwise you go crazy. Sometimes I get on an airplane and I go first class and someone will say to me, "This is the first class section," without even looking at my ticket. Now, I could get all upset, but its their ignorance that’s the problem, not mine. So why should I let it bother me? I’m not the one handing out peanuts.’

 

Bertice, who has a Ph.D. in sociology from Kent State University, explains how she developed a sense of humor growing up, the sixth of seven children in Wilmington, Delaware.

 

‘My grandmother was blind. She had a boyfriend with two artificial legs, and he couldn’t really walk. To watch the two of them, you had to laugh. I mean my mother was the president of the Black Blind Disabled Senior Citizens of Delaware. The only thing that is not funny is humor that’s exclusionary. If everyone feels they’re in on it, what’s the problem?’

 

Diane Amos remembers when her black mother and her white Jewish woman lover came out of the closet, and that has been the basis for some of her gay humor:

 

‘The material works because it comes out of my love for her....You don’t have to hurt people to be funny. People like to laugh together, so it should be something that brings people together. It shouldn’t separate. What better sound is there than a whole roomful of people laughing?’

 

Marga Gomez, who has starred in "Comedy Night with Whoopi Goldberg" and "Latino Laugh Festival" on Showtime, adds further understanding of humor:

 

‘ "Seinfeld" ended so now we can do comedy about something. Humor is the strongest defense mechanism. That’s why it’s always been used by immigrant groups. But it can be cruel. (Obviously all of these women had the likes of what this author called "the unlamented Andrew Dice Clay" in mind.) It can also be used against minorities. There’s the bully humor where comics beat up on women, gays, Hispanics. That’s the sort of humor that was used against immigrants. But most comedy can’t kill you. Character assassination, maybe. But it’s usually not lethal.

 

Marga, born to a Cuban comedian and a Puerto Rican exotic dancer likes to do comedy that’s more than mere diversion:

 

‘I like (to do comedy) with a bit of a bite, and I like to use material based on truth. This is true. I was in Lost Angeles looking for film work. There were parts for two Latinos in sit-coms this year and they were both taken by Chihuahuas. Anyway, I’m at this party when a high-powered agent comes up to me and introduces herself as Laura. I told her my name is Marga. She said, "Laura, Marga. That rhymes." That’s how smart they are in this business.

 

See additional information under the topic, Women.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

  1. What’s funny to you and what hurts? Why would someone laugh at what really hurts them?
  2. How important are comedians to a society? What role do they play?
  3. Do you agree that comics often come from personal or ethnic pain? Who are your favorite comics? Does your list include any female, minority comedians?
  4. How funny are you? Can one improve their sense of humor and ability to make others laugh?

IMPLICATIONS

  1. If love makes the world go ‘round, it is humor that lubricates the axle.
  2. One can hardly teach or do youthwork without love and humor. Humor that is grounded in love, social awareness, and desire for another’s growth and welfare should not hurt.

Dean Borgman cCYS

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