WP#2 Draft 1 Stand-Up Comedy: Aziz Ansari

WP#2 Draft 1Stand-Up Comedy: Aziz Ansari
Introduction
The entertainment industry continues to enjoy a growing audience across the globe due to its production of content that pleases all types of viewers. Stand-up comedy ranks high in this sphere currently and attracts a large number of people. In recent times, several stand-up comedians have become household names. Their shows are unique since they rely on the artists’ ability to deliver on stage regardless of the toughness of the crowd. When an act is successful, the credit goes to the comedian. The same applies when it fails to please the audience. Aziz Ansari is a famous American stand-up comedian who has thrived in a field that has overwhelmed many. His popularity is primarily due to his charisma and ability to maintain audience attention throughout his performance. Ansari’s “Stand-Up Monologue” (22 January 2017) on Saturday Night Live demonstrates that excellent stand-up comedians must blend current affairs in their acts, have an awareness of the sociocultural issues the audience faces, integrate awkwardness in the performance, and have a direct association with their jokes for them to be successful.
Aziz Ansari is widely known for his charm and humor, which have earned him an admirable position in the entertainment world. Hailing from an Indian-American background, Ansari has maneuvered through all manner of challenges that have threatened to derail his success in the competitive industry. Americans from minority groups have not had it easy breaking through in their respective fields. Ansari has practiced his craft on different stages, and he continues to grow with each performance. However, his success has lately attracted its share of controversy, as demonstrated by news headlines. Jason Zinoman of The New York Times has investigated allegations of sexual misconduct against the comedian (Zinoman). In response to these claims, Ansari adopted his famous style to suggest that the individual in question mistook him for another comedian, who is also Indian-American. The comedian revealed his skills in the face of an incident that would have tarnished his reputation.
“Aziz Ansari Stand-Up Monologue – SNL”
Ansari thrives as a comedian due to his ability to incorporate current events into his acts. He is known to tackle the economy, sports, and politics. In the show, Ansari comments on the political scene by highlighting Donald Trump’s win in the presidential elections (Saturday Night Live [SNL] 00:39). The outcome attracted much criticism owing to Trump’s statements throughout his campaign. He targeted minority groups, such as the Latinos, claiming that if elected, he would build a border between the US and Mexico to stop the entry of migrants. Some viewed his election as a mistake while others saw it as the birth of a new America. Ansari captures the views of both pro-Trump and anti-Trump groups in his jokes and manages to unite them in laughter.
Ansari opens his comments about Trump’s win with the following statement to applause: “Yesterday, Trump was inaugurated. Today, an entire gender protested against him.” (SNL 00:58). He goes on to discuss the demographic that voted for Trump (according to him, they are castigated as “dumb racists” by anti-Trump groups). The comedian compares the president to singer Chris Brown, who is notorious for his domestic violence cases that threatened to derail his career. Nevertheless, having elected Trump, the Indian-origin Muslim says that US citizens should not be carried away by the president’s overt racist rhetoric; rather, they should continue to treat fellow Americans with acceptance and respect. He stresses the importance of media in this matter. He suggests that instead of only portraying minorities as criminals and violent misfits, they should also telecast stories about the majority of them who are normal people leading peaceful lives (SNL 05:10). He carries this idea further by mentioning Islamaphobia and asking Trump to give a speech promoting tolerance instead of tweeting negative comments about his act. For example, President George W Bush did broadcast a speech after 9/11 in which he distinguished between Islam and terrorism to defuse the hatred of Americans toward all Muslims (SNL 07:03). Finally, Ansari closes his act by dropping a bombshell: US presidents are incapable of ushering change; only angry groups of people have this power (SNL 08:25). Slyly, he exclaims that he is addressing the largest and currently the most furious section of America: women.
Analysis of the Clip Chosen
Stand-up comedians can use socio-cultural issues to reach their audience successfully. The world comprises diverse people who have various characteristics that distinguish them from other groups. The US, for example, is rich in this aspect: it is home to African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Indians, among other communities. This varied population has its share of challenges, making it difficult for these people to fit into society. According to Drucker and associates, audiences listen to matters related to social awareness with keenness, especially when the speaker ridicules a particular group (564). The authors suggest that viewers respond to the joke based on how it affects them or other members of society. Ansari captures audience attention by speaking on the issue of racism in relation to President Trump’s victory. He explains that people are going to say things like “Trump won, go back to Africa. Trump won, go back to Mexico. … Trump won, go back to … wherever you came from” (SNL 03:48). These words are likely to spark angry reactions in a different setting. However, Ansari shows that despite how controversial a social issue is, it can still be used for comedy when delivered in the right manner.
Ansari integrates awkwardness in his acts to capture and retain audience attention. The entertainment scene in the US is filled with this aspect. Different shows use this element to mention sensitive matters that most people would not like to discuss. Two types of awkwardness affect how people socialize: every day and radical gaucherie. According to Kotsko, the former is evident among people who go outside what is reasonable to appeal to a group of individuals (6). The author describes it as a thirst to remain relevant. The second category, on the other hand, applies to societies that are not guided by any rules. Therefore, it has higher chances of causing discomfort among audiences compared to everyday boorishness. Ansari’s comments do not reveal this quality to an extent that makes his viewers uncomfortable. Awkward jokes can mute the audience such that it will not respond to the comedian throughout the show. Ansari demonstrates his mastery of comedy by ensuring that his employment of this factor does not go overboard.
Stand-up comedians must reveal a direct relationship with their content for them to have a positive impact on their audience. A study by Drucker and colleagues shows that viewers can respond to comedy based on different factors. The authors imply that aggressive humor affects recipients negatively if it concerns a sensitive issue that affects the latter. Similarly, the study highlights that delicate humor is likely to be accepted by viewers if its impact is shared by the speaker (Drucker et al. 551). For instance, if a female joke about workplace violence to an audience comprising women, auditors will most likely find humor in the statement. However, if a man does the same, his comments will elicit an angry reaction. Aziz Ansari speaks of the possible discrimination that minority groups may face under Trump’s presidency. He says, “Is that the plan, by the way? We’re all going to move? All the minorities? Forty-some percent of the country? Every minority’s going to move?” (SNL 04:03). The audience finds humor in his statement since Ansari belongs to a minority plagued by racism. If a Caucasian stand-up comedian had spoken the same words to a diverse audience, he/she might have encountered a hostile reception. Therefore, before engaging the crowd in humor, stand-up comedians must first assess their relationship with the content and understand how it may seem to the audience.
Conclusion
Stand-up comedy is a form of entertainment that will continue to grow. The field has an abundance of new talent and experienced players, such as Aziz Ansari, who are taking it to the next level. However, entertainers should understand the value of incorporating current events into their material. It helps them maintain relevance in the minds of the audience. Additionally, stand-up comedians should consider adding socio-cultural issues to their content for them to give the crowd something that they understand. Ansari’s stage presence also shows that awkwardness, when applied appropriately, can please viewers. Furthermore, these artists must show their relationship with the material they share to avoid aggravating the audience. The crowd enjoyed Ansari’s jokes about minority groups and how Trump’s presidency will affect them since the comedian belongs to this demographic.Works Cited
Drucker, Ari, Ofer Fein, Dafna Bergerbest, and Rachel Giora. “On Sarcasm, Social Awareness, and Gender.” Humor – International Journal of Humor Research, vol. 27, no. 4, 2014, pp. 551-573, 10.1515/humor-2014-0092. Accessed 13 Mar. 2020.
Kotsko, Adam. Awkwardness. O-Books, 2010.
Saturday Night Live. “Aziz Ansari Stand-Up Monologue – SNL.” YouTube, uploaded 22 Jan. 2017, youtube.com/watch?v=Whde50AacZs. Accessed 13 Mar. 2020.
Zinoman, Jason. “Aziz Ansari Addresses Sexual Misconduct Accusation In ‘Right Now’”. New York Times, 9 July 2019, nytimes.com/2019/07/09/arts/television/aziz-ansari-netflix.html. Accessed 13 Mar. 2020.
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