Slog - Comments on On the Failure to Properly Contextualize a Joke http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize Last Thursday, the Seattle International Film Festival commenced with a gala screening of Stuart Townsend's Battle in Seattle, a dramatic retelling of the WTO riots, in which the character of Governor Gary Locke was inexplicably given a ridiculous, English-as-a-second-laguage chop-socky accent. In this week's New Column!, we aimed to satirize Stuart Townsend's portrayal of Locke with a faux movie poster for his next flick: However—the print version of the New Column! was published without that explanatory starburst ("If you liked Stuart Townsend's inexplicable characterization of Governor Gary Locke in Battle in Seattle, you'll LOVE..."), leading numerous readers unfamiliar with Battle... Copyright 2008 Fri, 30 May 2008 13:03:13 -0800 Fri, 30 May 2008 23:29:46 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by WestSide Another nit: Gary Locke was never mayor of anything. King County Executive, check, Governator, check, mayor, non.

]]> WestSide http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036107 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036107 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 13:07:19 -0800 Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball @1 -- You must mean Govelnol.

]]> Jubilation T. Cornball http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036125 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036125 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 13:13:07 -0800 Comment by Andrew WestSide is right even if his nickname is stupid.

Even if you have the starburst, it's still pretty fucking racist.

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036132 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036132 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 13:14:43 -0800 Comment by Andrew WestSide is right even if his nickname is stupid.

Even if you have the starburst, it's still pretty fucking racist.

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036133 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036133 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 13:14:47 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave asians are too touchy about their image in the media.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036147 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036147 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 13:20:54 -0800 Comment by inkweary Oh! I thought it was a reference to erst-while Insurance Comissioner Deborah Senn's one-woman show. I imagined you were spoofing ex-public servants who go into the performing arts.

]]> inkweary http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036184 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036184 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 13:34:57 -0800 Comment by Dr. Savage Mudede Even if you have the starburst, it's still pretty fucking racist.

No, it's not racist, it's a parody of an inexplicably boneheaded move by a clueless filmmaker, you insufferable twat.

]]> Dr. Savage Mudede http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036192 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036192 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 13:38:30 -0800 Comment by w7ngman Doctor: "I'm sorry, but you've got a cataract."

Chinese patient: "No, I drive a Rincoln Continental."

(Shamefully ripped off from the Sopranos, but hirrarious nonetheless)

]]> w7ngman http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036244 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036244 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:02:23 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi Uh, so what did Townshend do with Locke's character?

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036248 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036248 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:05:23 -0800 Comment by My Hot Rod My only quibble was that "fall" should have been spelled "frar".

]]> My Hot Rod http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036250 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036250 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:06:03 -0800 Comment by me Are you sure that 'chop-socky' accent isn't the very real Hong-Kong accent of actor Tzi Ma, who is famous for his role in "Rush Hour", a few Jackie Chan films, and about a million other things. (If it was indeed a fake accent, then nevermind an carry-on.)

Personally, I was impressed they got such a high-profile actor to play Locke. I recognized him immediately.

]]> me http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036257 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036257 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:10:51 -0800 Comment by la #5: What image? They are invisible.

]]> la http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036260 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036260 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:11:58 -0800 Comment by Andrew @7
Yeah because having an actor from hong kong play a guy from Seattle leads directly to "Accelerated Math Skills" and "Kung Fu Kicks"?

This is a case of the parody being more offensive to than the original.

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036273 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036273 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:16:58 -0800 Comment by poppy #12: You forgot "Rush Hour", and a few Jackie Chan films.

#13: Would you be cool with a guy with an African accent playing Barack Obama or Colin Powell, or a guy with a Mexican accent playing Bill Richardson or Alberto Gonzalez? How bout a guy with a thick Scottish accent playing GW Bush?

]]> poppy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036284 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036284 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:22:24 -0800 Comment by lostboy Andrew @13, you seem confused about how satire works.

]]> lostboy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036290 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036290 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:24:06 -0800 Comment by w7ngman This is a case of the parody being more offensive to than the original.

How is that not the point?

]]> w7ngman http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036300 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036300 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:27:44 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Well, actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about your severe lack of Hispanic and Asian employees ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036307 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036307 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:30:03 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave Asians are invisible in the the major media because they make up less than 5% of the population. Sure, blacks make up 12% of the population of the U.S. but theyre not concentrated to a few major metro areas. and if you look at the media of those metro areas asians are represented pretty well.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036322 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036322 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:35:58 -0800 Comment by Matthew Also, how are we to know that the starburst wasn't added after negative reactions to the print version, rather than "left out" of the intended piece?

]]> Matthew http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036324 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036324 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:36:02 -0800 Comment by Jason Josephes It's art. No need to apologize for it.

]]> Jason Josephes http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036326 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036326 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:36:42 -0800 Comment by Sam M. I got the joke without needing the context. I'm sure plenty of other people did, too. People are just whining because it's easier to do so via e-mail and blog replies than the old ways (writing a letter, picking up the phone, brick through window).

]]> Sam M. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036332 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036332 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:39:23 -0800 Comment by Jeff Stevens Let me guess: An officer of the PC Police stormed into the Stranger offices dressed in a Darth Vader outfit, wielding pepper spray o'plenty, which he, she or it promptly and prodigiously sprayed in the face of the first person s/h/it saw, which was of course The Stranger's receptionist.

And the poor hapless sap still doesn't know that they were also channeling a wicked WTO-referencing meta-prank.

Stupid, stupid PC Police!

]]> Jeff Stevens http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036354 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036354 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 14:52:34 -0800 Comment by PC "it's still pretty fucking racist"

yeah, it's terrible, ohmygosh, a misguided attempt at satire, clearly the STranger is racist, horrors, we all must condemn it forthwith!!!

Meanwhile, denying real Blacks and Latinos and Asians real voting rights in DC or Puerto Rico or Guam, or any other places the rest of us get to rule over second class citizens with fewer rights -- that's all okey dokey, Mr. Okie!

Keep focused on the real racism: verbal slurs, near slurs, unintended slurs, misguided non slur slurs, slurs-because-of-our-special-sensitivity-to-such-and-such--and-you-forgot-to-respect-our-this-or-that slurs, etc. that's the real racism today!

Bonus: you get to call lots of folks racist, and never have to do anything about it!

]]> PC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036368 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036368 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 15:01:29 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @23 ... dude, using too many hyphens is way too PC ... even for me. Lay off the extra hyphens.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036597 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1036597 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 16:16:46 -0800 Comment by asiansupremacy uh, this is too boring to be racist; fake anti-P.C. in the name of satire and comedy is tired and needs to be put to sleep. Maybe if you let Asians take a crack at it, it would have been funny. All the white folks defending it as funny and satire is most likely racist.

]]> asiansupremacy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1037075 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1037075 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 23:17:05 -0800 Comment by Bob Not sure if it's racist but it seems so, but am entirely certain it's stupid and not funny.

Man, you sloggers try WAAAAY too hard to be funny and mostly fall right on your faces.

]]> Bob http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1037083 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/on_the_failure_to_properly_contextualize#c1037083 Housekeeping Fri, 30 May 2008 23:29:46 -0800