Reference no: EM133499389
Assignment: Communications Comedian or Artist Essay
What does it mean for a Comedian or Artist to be a good or prominent cultural representative in modern times?
The Comedians we've been studying are artists who have to go from town to town (Maz Jobrani, Jo Koy, Ali Wong). They have to perform for mainstream audiences. They have to talk about and constantly educate people (audiences, interviewers, etc.) about their racial and cultural background, and they have walk the tightrope of entertaining folks from all over America while being true to themselves.
People who are not entertainment professionals also have to do this work. In our diverse but polarized country, many people grapple with issues related to their cultural background all the time. Many folks in this class are immigrants or from immigrant families, and I suspect many of you have to do similar work educating fellow students, friends, and Professors about your family's immigrant experience in America all the time.
For those of you who have had these experiences, perhaps sometimes the responsibility of being a cultural representative is not that big a deal. Perhaps sometimes you feel you've done some good. Perhaps sometimes it feels repetitive and exhausting. Perhaps sometimes it's an annoying burden, and in this country there is absolutely a unique societal burden on the children of immigrants.
Now imagine doing that same work for audiences all over small town America, and those audiences expect you to make them laugh and entertain them with jokes about your family. And imagine doing that work as a Comedian and rising celebrity during the Trump administration.
Task
With all of that in mind I'd like you to explore this topic and answer the following questions.
Question 1) Based on the Comedians you've studied, in your opinion, what does it mean for a Comedian or Artist to be a ‘good' or ‘prominent' cultural representative in modern times?
Question 2) Based on the Comedians you've studied, in your opinion, how much of Comedian or Artist's professional identity is determined by their racial and cultural background when they are from an immigrant community? Can they ever just be a Comedian rather than a Comedian from a particular Immigrant Community?
Question 3) Based on the Comedians you've studied, In your opinion, how important is it for a Comedian or artist to challenge cultural stereotypes when many simply want mainstream acceptance and success?