Friday, 5 December 2008
STAND UP FOR BRITISH ASIAN COMEDY-assignment 2, article 2
After the racist texts messages sent by 118 there has been a lot of speculation of what is actually classed as a ‘joke’ in today’s society. There are actually a lot of British Asian comics working in the UK comedy circuit. Most of their jokes aim to turn the old stereotypes on their head. The most popular British Asian comic Jeff Mirza said: “I think 118 should leave the ‘jokes’ to the professionals. To hear a joke is one thing, but on a text that costs 60p, that’s funny in itself.” He added: “I think it is a fine line between funny and racist, but them type of ‘jokes’ are dated and cynical considering the society we live in today.” he also said: “Have you heard the awful one about ‘why Asians don’t play football? Every time they get a corner, they set up a shop. Maybe funny to some but I find it really annoying that Asians don’t play in the premiership.”
Maybe it depends who tells the jokes, and in what manner they are told and also where they are told. On a text message it seems more personal and malicious than if it was told by Jeff Mirza on a live stage, however it still would raise a few eyebrows. I caught up with ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ star Kulvinder Ghir and asked him what it has been like for him working on the comedy British Asian comedy circuit. Kulvinder said: “As a British Asian you have a choice, you can always rely on your own culture and find the humour in that.” He continued: “We can’t look at humour as British, we have to look at it globally, because the world I feel has grown much more smaller.”
There are certainly some very funny British Asian comics out there, some more controversial than others. One in particular is Isma Almas, a British Pakistani female who causes mixed opinions about her set. I saw her live and as she entered, fully clothed in a traditional black bhurka, the audience went silent because no one was sure whether her outfit was part of her act or whether she wore it for religious reasons. Her opening line to a silent crowd: “Sorry I’m late, it took me ages to pick my outfit.” Indeed the outfit was part of her act but it only worked because of who she was. Isma not only is representing the British Asian comics, she is also representing the very small minority of British Asian women comics.
So I guess we still have humour in our lives today without having to offend people. The text messages sent by 118 have been admitted by the company as being ‘racist’. I think it’s safe to say you could tell Asian themed jokes without being racist or inciting hatred however it depends who tells them, and how they are told.
Kameron Abbas
Maybe it depends who tells the jokes, and in what manner they are told and also where they are told. On a text message it seems more personal and malicious than if it was told by Jeff Mirza on a live stage, however it still would raise a few eyebrows. I caught up with ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ star Kulvinder Ghir and asked him what it has been like for him working on the comedy British Asian comedy circuit. Kulvinder said: “As a British Asian you have a choice, you can always rely on your own culture and find the humour in that.” He continued: “We can’t look at humour as British, we have to look at it globally, because the world I feel has grown much more smaller.”
There are certainly some very funny British Asian comics out there, some more controversial than others. One in particular is Isma Almas, a British Pakistani female who causes mixed opinions about her set. I saw her live and as she entered, fully clothed in a traditional black bhurka, the audience went silent because no one was sure whether her outfit was part of her act or whether she wore it for religious reasons. Her opening line to a silent crowd: “Sorry I’m late, it took me ages to pick my outfit.” Indeed the outfit was part of her act but it only worked because of who she was. Isma not only is representing the British Asian comics, she is also representing the very small minority of British Asian women comics.
So I guess we still have humour in our lives today without having to offend people. The text messages sent by 118 have been admitted by the company as being ‘racist’. I think it’s safe to say you could tell Asian themed jokes without being racist or inciting hatred however it depends who tells them, and how they are told.
Kameron Abbas
11 HATE- assignment 2 article 1
11 hate 11 hate
'1 1 hate' is the nickname the media have labelled them with. Indeed I am referring to the company that is 118. The company which makes funny television adverts that make us laugh and talk about with our mates. The company which prides themselves on fast efficient service and knowing everything there is to know. Can it really be true, that they would send racist jokes which incite hatred? Believe me when I say there was no one more shocked than me, when I received the texts.
After all the media publicity and quotes fabricated by tabloid newspapers, I thought it was finally time to write a real feature. I believe it is true that you can never fully understand racism unless you have been a victim. Racism in Britain is not as bad as it once was due to many reasons. Education, integration and much more acceptance, although it is still a big problem in certain areas of Britain. Especially Preston, which was labelled the 'the race hate capital of Britain' in a channel four documentary in 2006. However despite this would you, or would you not be shocked to be discriminated over a text message by a company as big and trusted as 118? If you received so called 'jokes' like: "What’s the difference between E.T and an Asian? E.T got the message and went home!" or what about: "How do you save a Pakistani man from drowning? You take your foot off his head!" Despite your race or religion, surely you would think the messages incite hatred against the Asian and Pakistani population in Britain.
The first one suggested Asians should go home. I was under the impression that we were living in a multicultural society. I was brought up in the knowledge that a BRITISH Asian was a British citizen, which begs the question of where is home? Franz Kafka once quoted: "Is it not obvious that a person would leave from where he is hated so much?" The point which is laughable is that was classed as a 'joke'. After the company apologised and held their hands up that the messages were racist, you would think they would dismiss the individual responsible. To further our shock and disappointment in the company that didn’t happen either. I spoke to Imran Shah, the friend’s phone which I was using for the day and asked him what he thought: "I think it’s disgraceful, it’s like abusing someone then later apologising. It doesn’t change anything, the individual is still guilty and must receive appropriate punishment." So let me ask you, what’s the difference between Kameron Abbas and 118? Kameron could tell you a better joke.
Kameron Abbas
'1 1 hate' is the nickname the media have labelled them with. Indeed I am referring to the company that is 118. The company which makes funny television adverts that make us laugh and talk about with our mates. The company which prides themselves on fast efficient service and knowing everything there is to know. Can it really be true, that they would send racist jokes which incite hatred? Believe me when I say there was no one more shocked than me, when I received the texts.
After all the media publicity and quotes fabricated by tabloid newspapers, I thought it was finally time to write a real feature. I believe it is true that you can never fully understand racism unless you have been a victim. Racism in Britain is not as bad as it once was due to many reasons. Education, integration and much more acceptance, although it is still a big problem in certain areas of Britain. Especially Preston, which was labelled the 'the race hate capital of Britain' in a channel four documentary in 2006. However despite this would you, or would you not be shocked to be discriminated over a text message by a company as big and trusted as 118? If you received so called 'jokes' like: "What’s the difference between E.T and an Asian? E.T got the message and went home!" or what about: "How do you save a Pakistani man from drowning? You take your foot off his head!" Despite your race or religion, surely you would think the messages incite hatred against the Asian and Pakistani population in Britain.
The first one suggested Asians should go home. I was under the impression that we were living in a multicultural society. I was brought up in the knowledge that a BRITISH Asian was a British citizen, which begs the question of where is home? Franz Kafka once quoted: "Is it not obvious that a person would leave from where he is hated so much?" The point which is laughable is that was classed as a 'joke'. After the company apologised and held their hands up that the messages were racist, you would think they would dismiss the individual responsible. To further our shock and disappointment in the company that didn’t happen either. I spoke to Imran Shah, the friend’s phone which I was using for the day and asked him what he thought: "I think it’s disgraceful, it’s like abusing someone then later apologising. It doesn’t change anything, the individual is still guilty and must receive appropriate punishment." So let me ask you, what’s the difference between Kameron Abbas and 118? Kameron could tell you a better joke.
Kameron Abbas
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