Ricky Gervais is getting in some trouble over his new TV show, as disability campaigners have accuses him of exploitation. This is not the first time that Ricky has come under the spot light of disability campaigners. However, my opinion on this... I think that Gervais is a fantastic comedian and a very clever one. I think the way that Gervais handles disability in his shows is in quite a sensitive way. Throughout the Office, Extras and his new show I think Gervais jokes don’t make fun of those with a disability but the ignorant people around them. Like that classic scene in the Office where Garath points out to a girl he has just been introduced to “hey, you’re in a wheelchair” while everybody in the room puts their head in their hands. In my opinion Gervais uses the ignorance and miseducation of disability as the joke and not the person who is disabled.
However, i am completely aware that comedy and disability is such a sensitive thing. That’s why i love Gervais because the majority of comedians choose to make the person the disability that joke and I find that so upsetting and disrespectful. I feel really stricken with the whole linking of comedy and disability sometimes, and yes i think that to promote inclusion that we do want people with disabilities to be included. Maybe they should be a part of the comic aspect just like every other member of society. However, my main issue is when it becomes disrespectful and mean. Comedians like Frankie Boyle and in some aspects Ben Stiller i think have clearly something missing inside them where it comes to empathy and understanding of other human beings.
Ben Stiller is an old enemy of mine. I have not watched Tropic Thunder, despite the fact that i have heard positive things about the films treatment of disability, making fun of ignorance rather than the disability again. However, after seeing “There is something about Mary” when i was 12 i just can’t bring myself to watch a single thing that Stiller is in, he has become so aversive to me he’s basically like a phobia at this stage! For anyone who hasn’t watched it, there is a horrible sterotype of an individual with a disability.
The thing that does bother me about disability humour is that my brother can’t defend himself. Pretty much every other group can, they can issue a statement or take the piss back. Now i know there are a lot of people with disabilities that are well able to give as much as they get, but my brother is not one of them. The fact that nasty jokes are being made about people with autism, really cuts me to the core and the fact that my brother cannot defend himself is what makes me feel the worst. It is a vulnerable group. When comedians argue the point of comedy is to push boundaries yaddayaddayadda guess what those theories are manmade! Mostly what i see are a bunch of insecure people, desperate to be shocking enough to make it into the papers and sell a few tour dates. If you don’t believe me, follow Tommy Tieran’s career- controversy- tour, controversy – tour and etc!
So again that’s just my opinion about a really sensitive matter. Again i don’t think disability humour should be not included. It allows people to become aware and hopefully discuss the disability. However, it does of course depend how it is done. Ricky Gervais you a winner in my book. Franky Boyle is worse than the worse biggest fattest playground bully picking on the smallest kid in the classroom.
No comments:
Post a Comment