Comments on: Subverting Stereotypes: Hari Kondabolu’s “Manoj” http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/ All that flavorful brownness in one savory packet Sat, 30 Nov 2013 11:11:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Paul http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-197064 Paul Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:26:39 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-197064 <p>Just thought I should chime in a bit on what it's like being a desi standup in the U.S. First off, I've seen the clips of Hari's act and the movie is making fun of comics who exploit their own for comedic gain. There IS a way to talk about being Indian and the experience without teasing it. I always run any Indian material I have under the filter of "Could a white person be able to write this joke?" If he could then I ditch it. That's why jokes making fun of accents and blatant stereotypes tend to offend. Also don't be confused between a comic doing an accent in their act and doing a joke about making fun of the accent. If I'm talking about my parents and conversations I've had with them I put on the accent but I do my best to make it as authentic as possible. I'm in Dallas and I mostly perform for white/black/hispanic audiences and they never laugh at the accent, they laugh at what's said. I feel insincere not doing the accent when talking about them just like I feel insincere talking like a redneck when talking about visiting a small town in Texas or just like I feel insincere not sounding like a 4 year old if I'm doing a joke about me being a kid. Also know that audience plays a big part in material. I've performed at many of these "desi comedy" nights and I've read blogs from people who have attended who are upset that the material is all about being South Asian. The only reason that is, is because the ENTIRE audience is South Asian. I have material that I can easily do for any audience but there is a hunger for South Asian material in front of South Asian audiences. I'm proud of the material I do for these crowds too but I also make sure it's specific to them and not just for the sake of writing a brown joke, it's from my experience. If I do my regular club set, talking about being Christian? (Then none of the non-Christian Indians in the crowd will understand) If I talk about my dating life and relationships (alot of the older uncles/aunties in the crowd won't understand) So I've had to write material for these desi crowds that can hit all age ranges/religions/regions. It's super hard. I'd love to be able to do one act for all types of crowds but it doesn't work. You play to the majority of the audience. I hope this sheds a little light on what it's like. Feel free to watch my clips to see what I mean on YouTube or on my MySpace profile (www.myspace.com/paul_and_oates)</p> <p>Paul</p> Just thought I should chime in a bit on what it’s like being a desi standup in the U.S. First off, I’ve seen the clips of Hari’s act and the movie is making fun of comics who exploit their own for comedic gain. There IS a way to talk about being Indian and the experience without teasing it. I always run any Indian material I have under the filter of “Could a white person be able to write this joke?” If he could then I ditch it. That’s why jokes making fun of accents and blatant stereotypes tend to offend. Also don’t be confused between a comic doing an accent in their act and doing a joke about making fun of the accent. If I’m talking about my parents and conversations I’ve had with them I put on the accent but I do my best to make it as authentic as possible. I’m in Dallas and I mostly perform for white/black/hispanic audiences and they never laugh at the accent, they laugh at what’s said. I feel insincere not doing the accent when talking about them just like I feel insincere talking like a redneck when talking about visiting a small town in Texas or just like I feel insincere not sounding like a 4 year old if I’m doing a joke about me being a kid. Also know that audience plays a big part in material. I’ve performed at many of these “desi comedy” nights and I’ve read blogs from people who have attended who are upset that the material is all about being South Asian. The only reason that is, is because the ENTIRE audience is South Asian. I have material that I can easily do for any audience but there is a hunger for South Asian material in front of South Asian audiences. I’m proud of the material I do for these crowds too but I also make sure it’s specific to them and not just for the sake of writing a brown joke, it’s from my experience. If I do my regular club set, talking about being Christian? (Then none of the non-Christian Indians in the crowd will understand) If I talk about my dating life and relationships (alot of the older uncles/aunties in the crowd won’t understand) So I’ve had to write material for these desi crowds that can hit all age ranges/religions/regions. It’s super hard. I’d love to be able to do one act for all types of crowds but it doesn’t work. You play to the majority of the audience. I hope this sheds a little light on what it’s like. Feel free to watch my clips to see what I mean on YouTube or on my MySpace profile (www.myspace.com/paul_and_oates)

Paul

]]> By: NYC Akshay http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196931 NYC Akshay Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:07:53 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196931 <p><i>30 · <b>Abs</b> <a href="http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/005085.html#comment196772">said</a></i></p> <blockquote> Rahul: Russell Peters is not as bad as people say he is. The accents stuff is hacky (and desis eat it up) but have you seen some of the Def Jam stuff? It's a little better. </blockquote> <p>I watched this stuff today. You're right, it is better than his usual routine, and there actually was a certain level of political awareness in it, but to be honest, I still didn't find it incredibly funny...</p> 30 · Abs said

Rahul: Russell Peters is not as bad as people say he is. The accents stuff is hacky (and desis eat it up) but have you seen some of the Def Jam stuff? It’s a little better.

I watched this stuff today. You’re right, it is better than his usual routine, and there actually was a certain level of political awareness in it, but to be honest, I still didn’t find it incredibly funny…

]]> By: Abs http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196848 Abs Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:25:10 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196848 <p>Louie Cypher: Are we reading the same blog? I love his writing! It's not nearly as aggressive as his standup and he gets to elaborate on ideas.</p> <p>I don't know if you all know Blue Scholars but they're a big deal in Seattle and I think they're somehow affiliated with Hari's film. Anyway, check out this tour of Queens he did with them: http://harithecomic.blogspot.com/2007/08/tour-of-queens-with-blue-scholars.html</p> <p>If this isn't funny to you, then we have completely different senses of humour!</p> Louie Cypher: Are we reading the same blog? I love his writing! It’s not nearly as aggressive as his standup and he gets to elaborate on ideas.

I don’t know if you all know Blue Scholars but they’re a big deal in Seattle and I think they’re somehow affiliated with Hari’s film. Anyway, check out this tour of Queens he did with them: http://harithecomic.blogspot.com/2007/08/tour-of-queens-with-blue-scholars.html

If this isn’t funny to you, then we have completely different senses of humour!

]]> By: DJ Drrrty Poonjabi http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196842 DJ Drrrty Poonjabi Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:38:29 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196842 <p>Argh, I won't be in the Bay when this is playing. Anyone else know when/where the next showing is going to be? I checked his site but couldn't find anything.</p> Argh, I won’t be in the Bay when this is playing. Anyone else know when/where the next showing is going to be? I checked his site but couldn’t find anything.

]]> By: Neela http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196839 Neela Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:17:50 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196839 <p>Manoj is an amazing film, one of the best South Asian films that they are playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Why, oh why, is that do people think?</p> Manoj is an amazing film, one of the best South Asian films that they are playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Why, oh why, is that do people think?

]]> By: Jackson http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196828 Jackson Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:39:50 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196828 <blockquote>Or that issues like domestic violence amongst the desi diaspora not be dealt with in the media or cinematic world at all?</blockquote> <p>Is there any other thing that's ever dealt with in the media or disapora cinematic world? I mean, I think all the guy is saying that if he sees another hackneyed finger-wagging stereotyping worthy piece of social realism movie he might feel like puking, and you know what? I feel the same. Same old depiction, demonisation, give it a rest for five freakin' minutes.</p> Or that issues like domestic violence amongst the desi diaspora not be dealt with in the media or cinematic world at all?

Is there any other thing that’s ever dealt with in the media or disapora cinematic world? I mean, I think all the guy is saying that if he sees another hackneyed finger-wagging stereotyping worthy piece of social realism movie he might feel like puking, and you know what? I feel the same. Same old depiction, demonisation, give it a rest for five freakin’ minutes.

]]> By: Rahul http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196826 Rahul Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:20:12 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196826 <blockquote>Rahul: Russell Peters is not as bad as people say he is. The accents stuff is hacky (and desis eat it up) but have you seen some of the Def Jam stuff? It's a little better.</blockquote> <p>Thanks, Abs. I'll check it out.</p> Rahul: Russell Peters is not as bad as people say he is. The accents stuff is hacky (and desis eat it up) but have you seen some of the Def Jam stuff? It’s a little better.

Thanks, Abs. I’ll check it out.

]]> By: Vandana http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196823 Vandana Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:22:22 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196823 <blockquote>I prefer Peter Sellers in brown face being chased by Sophia Loren & landing Hollywood starlets to being typecast as wife beater/fascist in "South Asian Film Festival" fare</blockquote> <p>This is a problematic attitude, in my opinion.</p> <p>Would you rather suggest that a non-desi play a desi wife beater? Or that issues like domestic violence amongst the desi diaspora not be dealt with in the media or cinematic world at all?</p> I prefer Peter Sellers in brown face being chased by Sophia Loren & landing Hollywood starlets to being typecast as wife beater/fascist in “South Asian Film Festival” fare

This is a problematic attitude, in my opinion.

Would you rather suggest that a non-desi play a desi wife beater? Or that issues like domestic violence amongst the desi diaspora not be dealt with in the media or cinematic world at all?

]]> By: louiecypher http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196781 louiecypher Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:42:38 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196781 <p>I understand using humor as a tool to make a point but Kondabolu is not funny. He's an activist with a sledge hammer. I was reading his blog and it is pretty clear that this guy is wound up tight and easy to offend.</p> I understand using humor as a tool to make a point but Kondabolu is not funny. He’s an activist with a sledge hammer. I was reading his blog and it is pretty clear that this guy is wound up tight and easy to offend.

]]> By: portmanteau http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2008/03/12/subverting_ster/comment-page-1/#comment-196779 portmanteau Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:18:18 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=5085#comment-196779 <p><i>29 · <b>Rahul</b> <a href="http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/005085.html#comment196756">said</a></i></p> <blockquote>I like Hari Kondabolu's and Paul Verghese's material much better.</blockquote> <p>Kondabolu spent a year as an exchange student at my school, and so over the course of that year I saw quite a few iterations of his material. His stage presence was great - never jarring or grating like many recent stand-up comics, but affable and comfortable. His vibe on the Jimmy Kimmel piece is very different from what I've seen earlier. Besides his 'South Asian' jokes, he focused on his inability to get with women (NOT always as a consequence of being a brown male, but his own dorkiness) and my own personal favorite joke was about his very WASP peers at his posh New-England colleges. Wealthy suburban kids pouring alcohol on the ground, saying, 'This one's for my homies.' I like his stuff, he came across as a good guy, was thought to be funny, despite being in what can only described as a hyper-PC environment.</p> 29 · Rahul said

I like Hari Kondabolu’s and Paul Verghese’s material much better.

Kondabolu spent a year as an exchange student at my school, and so over the course of that year I saw quite a few iterations of his material. His stage presence was great – never jarring or grating like many recent stand-up comics, but affable and comfortable. His vibe on the Jimmy Kimmel piece is very different from what I’ve seen earlier. Besides his ‘South Asian’ jokes, he focused on his inability to get with women (NOT always as a consequence of being a brown male, but his own dorkiness) and my own personal favorite joke was about his very WASP peers at his posh New-England colleges. Wealthy suburban kids pouring alcohol on the ground, saying, ‘This one’s for my homies.’ I like his stuff, he came across as a good guy, was thought to be funny, despite being in what can only described as a hyper-PC environment.

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