Goldstein: What if Stiller went ‘full-Jew’?
August 15th, 2008Patrick Goldstein, blogging at the Los Angeles Times, wonders whether audiences would be laughing if Ben Stiller were making fun of Jews instead of people with disabilities. An excerpt:
Just as an exercise in the art of tolerance, let’s change just one word in a couple of the excerpts that John Horn ran from the current “Tropic Thunder” reviews. Here goes:
1) “‘Tropic Thunder’ is drawing fire from special interest groups for its frequent use of the word ‘Jew,’ but discerning audiences will know where the humor is targeted. And they’ll be laughing too hard to take offense.” Christian Toto, whatwouldtotowatch.com
2) “Comedy needs the right to be offensive, and Stiller at least has the courage of his convictions. When he uses the word ‘Jew,’ it’s deliberate, not casual.” Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com.
… I raise these questions not to criticize the movie, but to remind us — you as a moviegoer as well as me as a writer — that there’s always a thin line between inspiration and offensiveness. If you’re a satirist, it’s one thing to cross that line, another thing not to bother giving thought about whether you’ve made it clear enough whom you are really making fun of.
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August 18th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I have been saying almost the same thing in my blog. Had the line been “never go full n***er” it would have been left on the cutting room floor or the AA rights groups would have been all over it (and rightly so)
August 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Thought about it, here’s what I came up with:
I have noticed that Jerry Seinfeld and Mel Brooks are themselves Jewish. So in the shows and movies they write, they are lampooning themselves. I don’t understand how this equates to lampooning others.
Clearly the solution that is being suggested is respectful language. We have the choice not to use race, diagnosis, ethnicity, etc as insults. We are being asked to make that choice. Self-control and etiquette, I suppose, are forms of self-censorship — hard to succeed without them though.
I do hope that among the skills you teach your daughter you include the ability to say “Stop It” loud and clear — and not stop until she is heard — when the need arises. I also know that in a few more years your daughter and her peers will outgrow their catty phase. At what point does a person who has a cognitive disability outgrow these slurs?
Guess what? This has not gone to the bureaucrats, the courts or to the government for relief — people have taken it to the streets of their towns to ask for better treatment from their neighbors. Is that really so much to ask?
August 16th, 2008 at 9:25 am
For the analogy to work, he’d have to use a different word than “Jew.” It starts with a “k” and I will neither say it nor type it just to make the point.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Hi Patricia, I’ve been following you’re excellent coverage of Tropic Thunder since the beginning. I’ve also frequented your site since my son, Ian, was born with Down syndrome nearly a year ago.
I’m one of the contributors to the online magazine 5minutesforspecialneeds and am convinced the boycott and call for the ban of the “R” word is unjustified. I’ve blogged my reasons why I feel this way on my personal blog at narrowridge.blogspot.com.
While I may not support the boycott, I am very grateful for the conversation the film has generated, and look forward to following it here on your site. Thank you ever so much for what you have done, and continue to do, for those with disabilities.
All the best,
Tom
August 16th, 2008 at 4:35 am
What if Stiller went “full Jew”? Well, Jews are quite often lampooned in Hollywood. Have you ever seen an episode of Seinfeld or one of Mel Brooks’ movies? I guess not.
What I notice in most of the objections to the language used in movies like “Tropic Thunder” is the absence of a solution. Should we add to the late George Carlin’s list of unmentionable words? Should “retard” be wiped from all dictionaries and banned from the lips of all Americans?
No? Then don’t plead your case if you have no solution. Feelings are hurt in this country everyday, and for a variety of reasons. If we’re not mature enough to recognize inanity for what it is and take comfort from our understanding of our own self worth, then let’s ban the term “nuance” as well and teach self-censorship classes in our public schools.
I expect that in a few years, my 8 year old daughter is going to experience what many girls in their teens endure; the often harsh critique of groups of catty girls in her school yard. I wish it weren’t a reality in her life, but it’s almost inevitable. What I’ll teach her is how to deal with such impending abuse.
Guess what? I won’t be advising her to take her case to the courts or to government bureaucrats for relief. I’ll teach her how to endure the indignity by realizing who she is and how she’s truly valued. If outside influences damage her sensibilities significantly, then I would feel that I, as a parent, have failed to guide her on the path to maturity.
Think about it.