Rape Joke Supercut: I Can’t Believe You Clapped For That

[redqueen]

http://www.womensmediacenter.com/blog/entry/rape-joke-supercut-i-cant-believe-you-clapped-for-that

It's not that we're grateful to unfunny comedian Daniel Tosh for attacking an audience member from the stage of a comedy club in L.A. by saying it'd be "funny" if she "got raped by, like, 5 guys, right now"—but it's been a gorgeous thing to watch the way the feminist community stepped up when it happened. They quickly moved the conversation from whether Tosh is a jerk and a hater (obviously) and whether free speech guarantees him immunity from criticism (obviously not), on to a conversation that's much more nuanced and more important: is there any humor to be found at all in the subject of rape?

There are those who will say "no, never." Considering that rape is both brutal and—especially for women—horrifically commonplace in American society (http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/), it's not hard, if you are a person with a vagina or a soul, to understand that take on it. But it's also worth examining the role that comedy can play in subverting dominant paradigms, since rape culture is in urgent need of some subversion, and ASAP.

Our Video Content Manager, Elisa Kreisinger, has created a new video, "Rape Joke Supercut: I Can't Believe You Clapped for That." A collaboration between Elisa and us at the Women's Media Center as well as Fem 2.0 (a project of Turner Strategies) and Jenn Pozner at Women In Media & News, the video aims to suggest that there is a crucial difference between playing rape for cheap laughs, and mocking or exposing the deep-rooted sexism that feeds and sustains rape culture.

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[seabeyond]

1. gorgeous thing to watch the way the feminist community stepped up

this is an upside. he is so offensive with what he said.... it has really brought awareness. i love the onion. for the onion to go after him, that says a lot.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/daniel-tosh-chuckles-through-own-violent-rape,28769/

HOLLYWOOD, CA—Embroiled in controversy following comments he made during a recent performance at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, comedian Daniel Tosh chuckled this afternoon while being violently raped by a group of men in a Hollywood alley. "You have to admit, this is pretty hilarious," said the teary-eyed 37-year-old, his bloodied face slamming against a brick wall as he was brutally and repeatedly penetrated against his will for the 53rd straight minute. "Sure, I'll be forever tormented by images of my attackers tearing off my pants and holding a knife against my throat as they viciously tear into my rectum, but c'mon, you gotta have a sense of humor about this sort of thing." As of press time, sources said a disheveled Tosh checked into a nearby treatment center, where he quietly smirked after being diagnosed with HIV.

[redqueen]

2. The worst attempts at jokes in that clip came from Louis CK IMO.

At least he's getting an education about comedy and the difference between using it to either subvert or enable oppression. Finally. He's pretty old to still be so clueless

http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/louis-ck-explains-daniel-tosh-rape-joke-tweet-350196

[seabeyond]

4. i dont know if i have ever listened to him. heard about him, before hearing him

and have been sure not to bother with him so i dont get pissed, lol

[redqueen]

6. All I've ever heard is glowing praise.

I've seen enough to know I disagree.

[seabeyond]

7. but... i have only heard the glowing praise from those that like the tosh's of the world. lol

but, in looking at feminist sites i have heard anything but glowing praise.

[redqueen]

8. Ooh really?

I need to dig around for some feminist critiques of his material then.

I've enjoyed a few tosh shows... not proud of it. Just dumb videos really, and him making stupid jokes about them. Didn't take long to be put off by the sexism and other ugliness.

[Major Hogwash]

3. They even talked about Tosh on Jon Stewart's program last night.

So, I think Tosh's 15 minutes of fame are just about over.

[seabeyond]

5. i will have to dig up stewart on this. i really really like stewart and colbert, and

sometimes they piss me off. (seldom, but sometimes). but, i will have to hear what stewart says about this.

it is reminding me a lot of dice clays demise.

[Texasgal]

9. I remember the ruckus over the

Seinfeld actor...Richards? Something like that? He yelled a racial epithet to someone in his audience...hasn't seemed to work much since.

Shocking how so many think that this is OKAY and just a joke.

Screw Tosh, he's a fucking pig!

[seabeyond]

10. ya

screw 'im. lol.