Sharing StoriesInspiring Change. Deconstructing the “Sassy Gay Buddy”

Sharing StoriesInspiring Change. Deconstructing the “Sassy Gay Buddy”

David Levy, composing for JewishBoston.com, recently challenged us at JWA to touch upon the gender/sexuality dynamic associated with the 2nd City’s brand brand new video clip series, “Sassy Gay buddy. ” He penned:

There is an extended tradition in Judaism of imagining various variations of well known tales, from rabbinic midrash to contemporary novels. Comedy troupe The 2nd City has tossed their cap in to the band this week with a brand new youtube video clip in their “Sassy Gay buddy” series.

If you aren’t acquainted with the show, it began many months ago as a goof from the tragic fate of therefore a lot of Shakespeare’s heroines. Maybe, the videos proposed, Ophelia, Juliet, Desdemona in addition to remainder could have had happier endings them away from trouble if they only had a BFF to steer. (we will keep it to JWA when it comes to deconstruction that is inevitable of these videos state about sex and sex. )

If that is a challenge, We accept. Into the videos, Ophelia, Juliet, Desdemona and Eve are each going to take action stupid when their “sassy homosexual buddy” steps in, speaks some feeling into them, and saves your day. Into the movie below, the sassy homosexual buddy prevents Eve from consuming the apple.

My, my. How to start. “Sassy Gay buddy” very demonstrably plays on stereotypes — the label that homosexual guys exist to be ladies’ “sassy homosexual buddies” additionally the label that ladies are, because it’s over and over repeatedly stated into the videos, “stupid bitches. “

The very first issue right here could be the presumption that exactly just what all the ladies do is stupid. Like, being murdered by the spouse, killing yourself, or consuming the apple. Let us keep in mind why these ladies have actually in a few real method been abused, used, tormented, or tricked, and calling their actions “stupid” seems a little like blaming the target.

The second issue is the the presumption that homosexual guys are professionals at being ladies.

They are better at it because, well, they may be perhaps maybe not ladies. They can see these scenarios more obviously simply because they do not have “brains made from rib. ” They’re also in a position to see these circumstances obviously since they aren’t right guys and as a consequence sidetracked by intimate attraction to females. Simply because they occupy neither room, they occur to instruct females (and guys on Queer Eye for the right man) just how to be “better” straight people. This can be demonstrably demeaning to right gents and ladies, but additionally to men that are gay. In this label, homosexual guys occur simply to assist right people, and tend to be therefore paid down to a role that is supporting frequently desexualized in order to not be threatening (think Stanford www.mydirtyhobby.com on Intercourse as well as the City).

Finally, we hate the expression “stupid bitch. ” The sassy friend that is gay this to Juliet and Ophelia, after which turns it in himself within the videos about Eve and Desdemona. The expression “stupid bitch” is vile as it invalidates ladies as real individuals with genuine desires, issues, psychological state problems, or views. He is stating that ladies don’t possess legitimate good reasons for acting how they do, they simply operate crazy because they’re “stupid bitches. ” By calling Juliet and Ophelia “stupid bitches, ” their alleged sassy friend that is gay the despair and heartbreak (and of course the misogynistic and paternalistic forces oppressing the women) behind all of their suicides since well, silly. As a result, he could be not just insulting females, but whoever has ever struggled with depression and ideas of suicide.

All of having said that, we really enjoyed these videos a whole lot. Extremely yes that are offensive but pretty funny too. That is the plain benefit of comedy — it plays on terrible stereotypes, is generally pretty offensive, and we also like it. Simply glance at Joan streams, Sarah Silverman, and a variety of other comedians who possess made us laugh with extremely humor that is innapropriate.

The most readily useful part, I think, may be the one about Juliet. Enjoy!