Slog
News & ArtsThursday, June 18, 2009
Film Is Bruno "Gay Blackface"?
Posted by David Schmader on Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 9:37 AM
I'm glad someone asked the question, and I'm unnerved that Jack Plotnick—a gay actor who's seen a Bruno rough cut and knows his way around edgy satire—is concerned. But I remain hopeful that what this YouTube commenter says holds true:
Blackface ridicules African-Americans because they are African-Americans. Bruno ridicules homophobic bigots and sensitive, cry-babies through mockery, satire, and exaggeration. With satire, either you get it or you don't. If you don't, just remember that the train has left and you have to find your own way now.
Here's the Bruno trailer.
Thanks for the heads-up, World of Wonder.
1
In Borat, he uses a cartoony, stereotypical Kazakh character to get humor in several ways: First, by doing crazy things that are inherently funny, like having a bear in the van or running naked through a conference room holding a dildo shaped like a fist. Second, by doing a sort of 'Kazakh blackface,' making fun of Kazakhstan for being foreign. Third, by making fun of random Americans for not realizing that Borat is, in fact, a big joke. Fourth, by using Borat's bizarre professed attitudes to get people to articulate their own racism, anti-Semitism, etc. on camera. Comedy!
If we're lucky, Bruno will likewise be offensive to both gay people and homophobes, while using the character's flaming gayness to look at homophobia in America.
If we're lucky, Bruno will likewise be offensive to both gay people and homophobes, while using the character's flaming gayness to look at homophobia in America.
2
The interviewer is asking questions in such a way that he is looking for a specific answer and that's what the interviewees are trying to give him. He's basically putting words in the mouth of Jennifer Cox. I'm not saying that the Brüno movie is going to be good or bad (comedy-wise or "for the cause"), but that these interviews don't tell me anything really.
3
I'm really looking forward to seeing it for myself. My heart may have hardened against straight people playing gay in drama--I giggled at the melodrama of Brokeback and marveled only at Josh Brolin's authenticity in Milk--but I'm soft on comedians doing it, whether just for yuks or more specifically ridiculing homophobia, my own and straight peoples'.
5
Here's my basic rule of comedy (that I stole from South Park): it's either all ok or none of it is ok.
6
The concerns that are being raised about Bruno by 'some members of the GLBT community' are pretty much the same ones that were raised by 'some members of the Jewish community' about Borat.
The racists, bigots, homophobes, and anti-Semites are going to hate no matter what is or isn't in a movie or comedy show.
What Bruno, like Borat, has the opportunity to do is open the debate to a wider audience about stereotypes and how members of a minority group are perceived and treated by sections of mainstream society. In that light, whether or not the character is 'offensive' or not is less of an issue than the fact that the movie brings discussions about homophobia to the forefront of public discussion.
The racists, bigots, homophobes, and anti-Semites are going to hate no matter what is or isn't in a movie or comedy show.
What Bruno, like Borat, has the opportunity to do is open the debate to a wider audience about stereotypes and how members of a minority group are perceived and treated by sections of mainstream society. In that light, whether or not the character is 'offensive' or not is less of an issue than the fact that the movie brings discussions about homophobia to the forefront of public discussion.
7
Hmm... I just read something about how the filmmakers had screened a rough cut with a group of Hollywood gays, who ended up thinking that some of the material crossed the line. There were apparently some re-shoots, and a fake charity song by Elton John and Chris Martin was added.
This is a tough one, and probably something that you have to see the movie yourself to form an opinion on (or, rely on someone who's satire bone you trust). It could go either way. I thought Borat was more about mocking Americans than Kazakhs, so I could also see a Bruno movie accomplishing the same thing with homophobes. But, it could also easily cross the line...
This is a tough one, and probably something that you have to see the movie yourself to form an opinion on (or, rely on someone who's satire bone you trust). It could go either way. I thought Borat was more about mocking Americans than Kazakhs, so I could also see a Bruno movie accomplishing the same thing with homophobes. But, it could also easily cross the line...
9
Eh, I wouldn't worry about it. It's not him being offensive, he is baiting bigots and homophobes and putting that in a harsh spotlight. Sure, it's going to be uncomfortable, but that is what it is supposed to do. It's supposed to push past the limits of taste or acceptable. If gays would just embrace the joke and not get, pardon the phrase, "butt hurt" about it then it would press the message even further. By creating a backlash or being pissed off you look silly and petty. It's a joke that you can be in on or not. Shit, even Eminem was in on it.
10
He's doing some unusually brave comedy, and he definitely runs the risk of offending people who are otherwise sympathetic to his point of view. But it's pretty clear that his intended target isn't gays anymore than Borat's target was Jews or Ali G's target was black people. He's getting people to expose and examine their opinions and attitudes, and making everyone uncomfortable in the process. It's not so different from what Lenny Bruce, George Carlin or Richard Pryor did back in their days. They all caught plenty of flack as well, but now we recognize them as having been comic geniuses who played important roles in expanding our sense of what was allowable in public discourse, and furthering the dialogue on free speech and civil rights.
Cohen is pretty damn impressive. And as seriously as we should take our battles, it also serves our cause when we can laugh at ourselves.
Cohen is pretty damn impressive. And as seriously as we should take our battles, it also serves our cause when we can laugh at ourselves.
11
Like the Colbert Report being misinterpreted as pro-conservative by a shocking number of Republicans, it's clear there's a fairly large generational divide in the ability to comprehend complex satire. I'm not sure I trust the reviews of Gen-X-plussers on this one, because they just didn't grow up with in-on-it fully-satirical characters we have.
Satire this layered is going to hit every layer of the cake. Even simple "blackface" jokes in Borat were often poking fun at the idea Americans had of foreigners, not making fun of the actual Kazakhs. The jokes ranged from "I cannot understand you because I'm foreign" to "look at how close you fucks are to complete chaos".
But you know what? A few blackface jokes are a GOOD THING. Taking yourself too seriously is what leads to scowling in the corner of a bar with your Kampf and an increasingly silly haircut. If you can't laugh at some of the sillier parts of your own culture, then maybe you don't deserve a culture.
Satire this layered is going to hit every layer of the cake. Even simple "blackface" jokes in Borat were often poking fun at the idea Americans had of foreigners, not making fun of the actual Kazakhs. The jokes ranged from "I cannot understand you because I'm foreign" to "look at how close you fucks are to complete chaos".
But you know what? A few blackface jokes are a GOOD THING. Taking yourself too seriously is what leads to scowling in the corner of a bar with your Kampf and an increasingly silly haircut. If you can't laugh at some of the sillier parts of your own culture, then maybe you don't deserve a culture.
12
"With satire, either you get it or you don't. "
Well...and either it works or it doesn't. The train has left the station, verses the train has left the tracks...
Well...and either it works or it doesn't. The train has left the station, verses the train has left the tracks...
13
I can't wait to see this film. I can't wait for everyone to be offended, shocked, dismayed, horrified, and pleased on all sides of the debate. This film is going to shake things up and that is a great thing!
14
Sasha Cohen is perhaps the bravest performer in the history of humanity. To put on the crazed, offensive personas he creates, and to go out and live it as if it were real in front of an unstable, reactionary public that could turn on him at any second takes the biggest balls on planet earth. That the end result is uncomfortable for everyone is really a testament to the intelligence of the performer.
15
For fucks sake!
One thing for sure is that SOME people just don't get Sasha Baron Cohen. It's fucking satire and he has actually been making fun of bigots for over a decade and many people, particular Europeans, are very familiar with his work. He is a formally trained actor who attended Cambridge University and guess what? He's Jewish but plays the anti-semitic Borat.
“'Through his alter-egos, he delivers an obvious satire that exposes people's ignorance and prejudice in much the same way All in the Family did years ago.”
Movie studios paid $42.5 million just for the rights to produce movie.
So STFU!
One thing for sure is that SOME people just don't get Sasha Baron Cohen. It's fucking satire and he has actually been making fun of bigots for over a decade and many people, particular Europeans, are very familiar with his work. He is a formally trained actor who attended Cambridge University and guess what? He's Jewish but plays the anti-semitic Borat.
“'Through his alter-egos, he delivers an obvious satire that exposes people's ignorance and prejudice in much the same way All in the Family did years ago.”
Movie studios paid $42.5 million just for the rights to produce movie.
So STFU!
16
Not sure that I want to be agreeing with Pol Pot... but yeah, Sasha Cohen is amazing.
Before seeing his show or Borat, I was disgusted by the idea that we'd have a mockumentary out that made fun of foreigners.
Then I caught the show while staying at a hotel. Cohen makes fun of the mainstream by fulfilling our wildest internal stereotypes.
Yes, it's sensitive territory, and yes, he could completely fuck up and just come across as homophobic, but I don't think it's his intention, and if it's anything like Borat (or his Bruno skits on the Ali G show), it should be a masterpiece.
Before seeing his show or Borat, I was disgusted by the idea that we'd have a mockumentary out that made fun of foreigners.
Then I caught the show while staying at a hotel. Cohen makes fun of the mainstream by fulfilling our wildest internal stereotypes.
Yes, it's sensitive territory, and yes, he could completely fuck up and just come across as homophobic, but I don't think it's his intention, and if it's anything like Borat (or his Bruno skits on the Ali G show), it should be a masterpiece.
17
Personally, I'd rather watch real actors in Black Lightning, the SIFF Golden Space Needle winner.
Much more fun.
Much more fun.
18
"Problematic?" How so? What a bunch of inarticulate boobs. Most of them can't even state an opinion that makes any sense.
@14:"Sasha Cohen is perhaps the bravest performer in the history of humanity." Just stop. That may be the dumbest Slog comment ever. The guy's one-dimensional.
@14:"Sasha Cohen is perhaps the bravest performer in the history of humanity." Just stop. That may be the dumbest Slog comment ever. The guy's one-dimensional.
20
This reminds me a little of the movie "Tropic Thunder", where Robert Downey Jr does blackface. Very dangerous territory. It had the potential to be disastrous. But it was handled with skill and care, and ended up being hilarious.
Likewise, Bruno has the potential to be disastrous and offensive. But Cohen seems pretty good at this kind of thing. I'm not offended by anything in the trailer or any clips I've seen. So far, it looks pretty funny. It pokes fun at homophobes more than it pokes fun at gays.
Likewise, Bruno has the potential to be disastrous and offensive. But Cohen seems pretty good at this kind of thing. I'm not offended by anything in the trailer or any clips I've seen. So far, it looks pretty funny. It pokes fun at homophobes more than it pokes fun at gays.
21
Blackface is comedy and humor too, but only for a very limited audience. It's Queerface all over again. Not to worry, this too shall pass.
23
I think that Borat(Sasha Baron) is a kind of childish humor that is very offensive.To the director of programming for LOGO,pull your head out and get Sordid Lives back inot you lineup,we are tired of the damn reruns.Sordid Lives is one of the best sitcoms I've ever seen and think it will someday rate up there with All in the Family,Golden Girls and Lucille Ball.
25
No matter how offensive something is, it gets a pass from me if it's hilarious. Cohen is hilarious.
Plus it was enjoyable to watch Eminem squirm in homophobic panic.
Plus it was enjoyable to watch Eminem squirm in homophobic panic.
27
Double standard
Many Jewish and black comics have lampooned gays, though members of both communities often get pretty testy when they don't like how their own kind in portrayed in film, theatre, books and TV. I don't think gays really mind being made fun if the intention isn't hateful or mean-spirited. "Will and Grace" was hardly flattering but still had a very big gay following. The problem with Sacha Cohen is that he hides behind the premise that he's fighting homophobia when in reality he doesn't care about anything but ridiculing everything in his path. The best thing the gay community can do is to simply ignore the film. Straight people will hopefully do the same.
Many Jewish and black comics have lampooned gays, though members of both communities often get pretty testy when they don't like how their own kind in portrayed in film, theatre, books and TV. I don't think gays really mind being made fun if the intention isn't hateful or mean-spirited. "Will and Grace" was hardly flattering but still had a very big gay following. The problem with Sacha Cohen is that he hides behind the premise that he's fighting homophobia when in reality he doesn't care about anything but ridiculing everything in his path. The best thing the gay community can do is to simply ignore the film. Straight people will hopefully do the same.
28
i just don't like the way his comedy relies on humiliation; i don't think that getting anti-semitic and homophobic people to humiliate themselves for the amusement of the rest of us does anything except make those kind of bigots feel even more alienated and angry, and allows liberals to pat themselves on the back for not being that dumb, rather than examining their own issues. Which is ironic because laughing at the caricatures he embodies is actually part of the pleasure for the audience, too. Watching Bruno, your average straight dude gets to laugh at an amped up, one-dimensional version of camp gay masculinity, AND laugh at people who are expressing homophobic opinions he knows better than to reveal in public. i say this from watching the trailer last night, amongst an audience of frat boy types that then laughed heartily at all the homophobic moments in hangover...
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