Comedy
This week: Stand up Comedy in Brazil! Edited by: eyestar~* More Newsletters By This Editor
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Hail Readers! I am happy to be back as guest editor of this edition.
There are countries in the world where freedom of speech and comedy topics is not a choice. A few years ago, a new generation inspired by what they were able to see online and US tv, bravely disurbed the old regime of comedy. The Brazilian flavour may not make sense to our culture and yet there are common themes that are being translated in the online and tv world.
“A wedding is a much more happy occasion for a woman than for a man,” Rafinha observes in one of his routines. “It’s not by accident that at the ceremony she wears white and he wears black." Rafinha Bastos
“Men were not born for long-lasting relationships. Why do you think a dog is a man’s best friend? Because it’s a faithful companion? No, because the thing dies in 14 years. When it comes time to choose a pet, you’re never going to see a man pick a turtle, which sticks around for 90 years.” ~` Rafinha Bastos
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In looking around at satire I began to see how lucky we are in countries where creative freedom is allowed and comedians can comment and make fun of pretty well anything. In studying Brazil in our weekly trip in "Invalid Item" I came across an article on Danilo Gentili, a controversial and popular trail blazer for stand up Comedy in Brazil, along with other comedians who wanted to break with the past. The rise of these brave rebels was an independent movement as comedians like Rafinha Bastos began emulating western Comics and began to gain an audience in 1999 on the internet.
Brazil had a deference for ability and authority and while it had a rich history of political satire and humour in literature, art and tv , but until 2011 there was not much standup where contestants were free to speak their minds. Comedians made careers of tv shows controlled by the elite. There is still resistance that some things should not be talked about in fun. Less than 30 years ago under its military regime swipes at politicians would have been expelled, arrested or even killed.
Gentili and his partner Rafinha Bastos both irreverant and fearless in developing social criticisms became most popular on Twitter. Bastos began telling jokes on the internet and found an audience around 1999. Robson Nunes organized the opening up of Stand up at Sao Paulo's BAR Beverly Hills with open mic sessions in 2004. It became the place for comics to test their material.
Gentili played there and was inspired in opening the first standup club with his partner Rafinha: the 300 seat Comedy Club in Sao Paulo.
In 2011 Alvaro Paes de Barros, Via Com Manager, organized the opening of US Comedy Central Channel, so the standup comedy genre in Brazil became much more solidified.The main area for the stable rise of Comedy used to be the Southeast cities and now are shifting to other areas like the Amazon river.
Each comedian has their own line, natural in choices of themes like relationships, race, politics, football. Gentili, who was inspired by Ricky Gervais and Monty Python, is known for political satire, right on the edge, willing to ask celebrities, political figures the most embarrassing, outrageous or disrespectful questions. In more recent shows he also critiques the daily side of Brazilian life.
He now has his own show and it has not changed his on the edge style. As he is quoted to have said,
"Anywhere in the world, people understand the role of comedian is to crack jokes. One day they will understand this in Brazil, I hope."
Since then, comedy has grown and much harder to stop as audiences are loving the laugh! Well known names in Brazil now include Murilo Couto, Marcella Leal the earliest female comedian discussing women's issues and relationships with men, Migel Gordon, who gave up his law career to do this full time in places like Rio.
His quote though is still now true for Brazil for the most part but still not in some other dictatorship or controlling countries. So the next time you laugh or even judge whether a joke should have been made, just be happy for the freedom you may have to be able to poke fun.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/02/brazil-comedy-standup-danilo-genti...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/arts/television/rafinha-bastos-brazilian-comed... |
Have a good time!
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| | The Wizard (18+) A superstitious trucker gets the ultimate joke played on him by his friends. (True Story) #2079570 by Dee |
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Who is your favourite Stand up Comedy Comic?
Mandy
Hey there! Thank you so much for highlighting one of my poems in your newsletter. I enjoyed your article on satire and the mention of satirical writing dating back to ancient Egypt. I've always had a fascination with everything Egypt, and I’m not surprised that there was a bit of offensiveness and discomfort in the humour. I particularly like your added example: "Satire is, by definition, offensive. It is meant to make us feel uncomfortable. It is meant to make us scratch our heads, think, do a double-take, and then think again." `Maajid Nawaz. That is so true, and I'm sure there have been many miffed readers of the satire genre. Great newsletter!
Thanks Mandy!
Osirantinous
I love Satire, it's just my kind of humour. Being a classicist, I've read Juvenal and Horace (who wrote a few but not as good as J). Also in Uni I did a course called Classical Traditions in English Literature and a big chunk was on Satire, so I've read Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson too; their satires in imitation of Juvenal are really really good. Wish I could write it myself!!
"Me too! I am not funny. Thanks Os!
Creeper Of The Realm
That's quite a history on satire! It makes me think of sarcasm, half-truths. Thanks for sharing all this. I've enjoyed the read. There's a little satire poem in my port somewhere, but it needs work so I won't share.
Thanks Gaby! |
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