Summary Of E Unibus Pluram

Regardless that we have identified the components of comedy that these reactions best fit, since the reasonings are not the same the question remains of what causes these reactions to change. Focusing less on Perry’s agenda as the basis for the change, the new shift evaluates the film itself.

One examination of film, or more so visuals itself, comes from author David Foster Wallace. In the article E Unibus Pluram: Television and U.S. Fiction, Wallace evaluates television and its impact on the general lone observer. By studying television’s ability to keep viewers in a constant cycle of guilt, indulgence, and reassurance, Wallace reasons that there is a deeper way to keep viewers in this repetitive cycle through the use of irony. Irony, in this

When considering ethnic comedy, there is the concept of how comedy will impact the race relations and (mis)understandings of its topic. Before, this was the presumed causation of the varying reactions. With the addition of irony, however, how comedy will impact racial relations and (mis)understandings now changes to revolve around how well the viewer feels like they are in on the in-joke. According to Jelani Cobb, ethnic comedian Dave Chapelle and his recent dissolution of his comedic specials and show is dependent on this realization (Cobb). Ethnic comedy’s entirety is the portrayal of inside jokes associated with a specific group. The implications of this is that the inside joke is only for those in these groups or those familiar with background/experiences necessary to understand the struggles the humor illuminates. For Chappelle, his act began to become false in his own mind due to his audiences clamoring to be smart enough to catch the irony (Cobb). They did not truly understand the implications of their reactions to Chappelle’s humor. Sometimes they would be laughing with the negative associated mindsets – with the blackface- instead of at these mindsets

Being able to identify with Madea, the audience feels as if they are on the inside of the joke. Even critics to the stereotypes within Perry’s movies have no qualms against Madea even though an exaggeration of the stereotype she portrays is present. As Green et. al. claims, “although consumers recognize the use of exaggerated and outrageous racial stereotypes in comedy, they nonetheless accept these stereotypes as legitimate for the sake of entertainment and, most poignantly, as capturing at least a grain of something that is real and authentic” (Green and Linders). The conclusion after striving to outwit the comedic device that the audience reaches is that Madea is simply a character who they can identify with. When this audience then looks at other stereotypes, they cannot outwit the comedic device as they do not understand the reasons why one would create these characters. Lack of understanding causes them to feel as if they then are the butt of the joke – on the outside. Unable to appreciate the reasons for these stereotypical characters, misunderstanding leads to negative reactions and misinterpretation. What causes this change is how well we feel that we are a part of the joke and if we understand the irony of the