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