The Potential Restrictions of Offensive Joking in a Conservative Society
In America, people sometimes say that the funniest jokes tend to be the most offensive, and in a socially liberal Western society (at least in the parts of it not directly straddling the Bible Belt), decades of evolving freedoms in speech have guaranteed that not many things being said can still offend people immediately. Comedians (and common people cracking jokes, for that matter), often take to greater and greater extents just to ensure their offensiveness (and thus funniness) can be taken to higher and higher levels, through more and more unique and disgusting ways.
The result is that what is said in comedic performances become matter of controversy as the content become closer and closer to the "read line" tolerable by broadcasting to even an 18+ audience....and this is America, where culture of offensive jokes run deep. But what about these comedians who bring the American-style offensive comedy to other parts of the world, where social conservatism means that the level of tolerance for such controversial topics (at least for the average citizen) is much much lower than in the US?
Attending a Russel Peters comedy show here in KL seemed to be a good way to explore a bit more on this particular issue. For those not in the know, Peters is an Indian-Canadian comedian most famous for his racial stereotyping jokes featuring accents of different ethnicity, mixed with an abundance of sexual jokes that does not even try to hide the references to genitalia in most cases. His notoriety, gathered over the past decade or so, has been so great that the author remembers his clip was shown during his Yale orientation in 2006 as a point of discussion on cultural diversity.
And here he was, in Malaysia, where politically, there has been talks of implementing sharia laws in more conservative places, and there have multiple uproars when good Muslims have subjected themselves to supposedly un-Islamic behaviors in concerts and other performances by foreign stars visiting the country. It is almost certain that most, if not all, of the jokes uttered by Peters will be met with not just disagreeable frown, but uncontrollable rage by many increasingly religious-minded politicians that are managing the future of this country.
To summarize Peters' one-and-a-half-hour performance in one sentence, it is fair to say that he did not disappoint his intended audience. No, not the increasingly religious-minded politicians mentioned above, but the common people who followed him for years after seeing his viral clips on Youtube and elsewhere. Despite being in Malaysia, Peters did not at all tone down the level of "intensity" in his jokes. The talks of blacks, homosexuals, and of course Asians did not abate. Even ISIS and Mujaheddin made a few cameos in vague references that draw explosive laughter.
For the author, Peters' successful outing here in KL proves two things. One is that grassroots Westernization among the Malaysian populace (or at least some segment of it) runs extremely deep. Their exposure to elements of Western culture (as demonstrated by affinity toward Peters) stands as formidable bulwark against further implementation of more fundamental aspects of Islamism in the country. However, on the flip side, the fact that vast majority of Malaysians in attendance are Indians and Chinese forecasts a greater ethnic split on social issues.
Two is that, despite all the talks of social harmonization based on Islamic principles, the government here in Malaysia is still relatively laissez-faire when it comes to what are done and said at private, indoor events. This harks back to the country's cherished principles of protecting minority cultures and rights. As much as the minorities openly speaks, in recent years, of erosion of such principles in practice, there should still be optimism toward its preservation. Yet, whether the continued divergence in value in public and private can lead to parallel societies (like Iran) is another matter.
Whether Malaysia has its British heritage and immigrant culture to thank for these requires no further elaboration. This, ultimately, is the message that Peters convey with his racial jokes, and perhaps what makes Malaysians (and people of all races) resonate with him so much. Living in diverse societies, with neighbors, co-workers, and friends of different colors and background generate natural conflicts and dissonances that easily turn into hilarious situations worthy of sharing. The presence of such possibilities are the best way to counter any turn toward social conservatism and severely weaken any attempt to restrict what can be and cannot be butt of "offensive" jokes.
The result is that what is said in comedic performances become matter of controversy as the content become closer and closer to the "read line" tolerable by broadcasting to even an 18+ audience....and this is America, where culture of offensive jokes run deep. But what about these comedians who bring the American-style offensive comedy to other parts of the world, where social conservatism means that the level of tolerance for such controversial topics (at least for the average citizen) is much much lower than in the US?
Attending a Russel Peters comedy show here in KL seemed to be a good way to explore a bit more on this particular issue. For those not in the know, Peters is an Indian-Canadian comedian most famous for his racial stereotyping jokes featuring accents of different ethnicity, mixed with an abundance of sexual jokes that does not even try to hide the references to genitalia in most cases. His notoriety, gathered over the past decade or so, has been so great that the author remembers his clip was shown during his Yale orientation in 2006 as a point of discussion on cultural diversity.
And here he was, in Malaysia, where politically, there has been talks of implementing sharia laws in more conservative places, and there have multiple uproars when good Muslims have subjected themselves to supposedly un-Islamic behaviors in concerts and other performances by foreign stars visiting the country. It is almost certain that most, if not all, of the jokes uttered by Peters will be met with not just disagreeable frown, but uncontrollable rage by many increasingly religious-minded politicians that are managing the future of this country.
To summarize Peters' one-and-a-half-hour performance in one sentence, it is fair to say that he did not disappoint his intended audience. No, not the increasingly religious-minded politicians mentioned above, but the common people who followed him for years after seeing his viral clips on Youtube and elsewhere. Despite being in Malaysia, Peters did not at all tone down the level of "intensity" in his jokes. The talks of blacks, homosexuals, and of course Asians did not abate. Even ISIS and Mujaheddin made a few cameos in vague references that draw explosive laughter.
For the author, Peters' successful outing here in KL proves two things. One is that grassroots Westernization among the Malaysian populace (or at least some segment of it) runs extremely deep. Their exposure to elements of Western culture (as demonstrated by affinity toward Peters) stands as formidable bulwark against further implementation of more fundamental aspects of Islamism in the country. However, on the flip side, the fact that vast majority of Malaysians in attendance are Indians and Chinese forecasts a greater ethnic split on social issues.
Two is that, despite all the talks of social harmonization based on Islamic principles, the government here in Malaysia is still relatively laissez-faire when it comes to what are done and said at private, indoor events. This harks back to the country's cherished principles of protecting minority cultures and rights. As much as the minorities openly speaks, in recent years, of erosion of such principles in practice, there should still be optimism toward its preservation. Yet, whether the continued divergence in value in public and private can lead to parallel societies (like Iran) is another matter.
Whether Malaysia has its British heritage and immigrant culture to thank for these requires no further elaboration. This, ultimately, is the message that Peters convey with his racial jokes, and perhaps what makes Malaysians (and people of all races) resonate with him so much. Living in diverse societies, with neighbors, co-workers, and friends of different colors and background generate natural conflicts and dissonances that easily turn into hilarious situations worthy of sharing. The presence of such possibilities are the best way to counter any turn toward social conservatism and severely weaken any attempt to restrict what can be and cannot be butt of "offensive" jokes.
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