How does that guy in the back keep a straight face? Would this be funnier if the audiance was laughing? What have we learned from our studies about why or why not this is funny?
Is This Funny" Why or Why Not?
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Well I can certainly understand how the guy in the back is keeping a straight face. I don't think this is funny. I understand the seriousness of the times might call for some comic relief but people already think congress is a big joke. I cannot believe they had a comedian come in and speak on any issue let alone such a complicated issue. I think it would be funny on his show but not in a serious setting. For me, I don't think this is funny because it does not put me in a paratelic state. I'm still in a telic state because I take congressional issues seriously but obviously congress doesn't. Others may find this funny and that's fine. I'm not saying anything is wrong with that. I am saying there is something wrong with congress finding this funny. Like I said, this would be funny in a playful setting. I would be able to be in a paratelic state if it were on his show or another entertainment program.
I think that is the point. Stephen is making a statement about congress, that they find it wise to take ask a comedian about his 1 DAY OF EXPERIENCE with migrant workers. I think any rational person can agree that the issue is very complicated and will take a lot more effort than spending a single day in some field to understand the plight of illegal residents of the U.S. To someone who still holds the delusion that congress knows what it is doing and holds the best interest of the american people up to be the standard for decision making this probably isn't that funny. But to Colbert and many in his audience congress is broken, corrupt and incompetent and mocking them to their faces is hilarious. I believe this humor is rooted in aggression, the same aggression that fuels political unrest. Stephen is tapping into our ability to laugh at ourselves as we watch people we voted for screw us over again and again.
I think this is hilarious. If anything it just serves to popularize Colbert's character even more.
I think it's important that people remember this isn't really how this guy is when he wakes up in the morning. In fact, he's not French at all as his last name would suggest, he's Irish. There was a nice piece on "Meet the Press" where he admits he reads a lot of newspapers, has a dozen writers, and they sit around all day and think of these jokes to can and put on television, or in this case, in front of a high court. His attitude, demeanor, and style of humor are all part of a fabricated brand.
I find it interesting to think if Colbert wasn't protected behind this "character", would he have enough nerve to deliver his type of humor, or pull this stunt at all? Like we briefly explore in the first week of class, Colbert uses his character, and the character's style of humor, as a defense mechanism to do or say really whatever he wants. It's like the African American comedian we saw in the other YouTube video. His character makes it "acceptable" for him to say these kind of things in such a setting.
Like JCrain said, it's kind of a despicable jest to come in and mock such a serious issue when people already have a diminishing confidence in government. Didn't Earthquake do the same thing with the tiger and Roy? For instance, if Bruce Braley went up and gave this exact same speech, he would likely be thrown right out of the hearing. But, since it was Colbert, his ego supersedes the indignation and these people let him get away with it and it makes us laugh.
"because apparently, even the invisible hand doesn't want to pick beans" that got me to lol. also, the lady using her blackberry mid-speech.
I found this video to be extremely funny. By adding a sense of comedic relief to important issues that the government is facing today, Colbert's character is able to educate those people that would normally not take the time to watch CNN of Fox News and find out these issues for themselves. I think that tony made a good point in saying that it is funny to think that a person could go out for one day and know exactly what it is like to be a migrant worker. Similarly, there is no way that after one day of trying to 'experience' what it's like to be a migrant worker that a person would know what it is like to live in fear that he or she will be caught for being in this country illegally or what it is like to know that there is no alternative to such hard labor.
Although I am not familiar with Colbert's character, I found him to be very humorous in this skit. One of the funniest parts in my opinion was when Colbert said that after this, he can't walk past a salad bar without cringing. This skit involved a very dry sense of humor where the incongruity of the serious context was offset by the outlandish examples being given for such serious topics. Additionally, this skit demonstrates a humorous approach to the corruption and inconsistency that the government has revealed to U.S. citizens over the years. When Colbert commented on Congress not being fully prepared to discuss the issue, he was probably right. It is hard to believe that there are still so many reoccurring faults being demonstrated by our government despite these people being considered America's 'very best' and 'most qualified' for the job.