Again, in the spirit of artistry, I've chosen another piece that focuses on developing your craft, this time from the point of view of writer and comedian (and friend/teacher), CJ Hunt. In this post, CJ confronts one of the biggest questions that writers and artists everywhere face: What is my Voice? What do I have to say?
Voice: Comedy with an Argument
by CJ Hunt, Sept 10, 2015
If some big wig producer asked to see just one piece of my work, I would show them this Urban Outfitters parody I made with Stupid Time Machine.
Whatever the reactions, I’m proud of the sketch because it was the first thing I’ve ever made that mattered enough to ignite strong reactions among viewers. That’s what I want: to make comedy that matters.
A year later, I still love that this sketch has an argument at its center. A statement about cultural appropriation that is as much about white festival girls in headdresses as it is about Thanksgiving as a holiday. Some folks don’t get that argument. To them, the satire feels too close to reality or too triggering of real racial trauma. But to me, the value is in the fact that the sketch is reaching for something. It’s going for it. The fact that it’s out on a limb is exactly what makes it vulnerable.
I just had a Facebook convo with a self-righteously outraged white guy about his qualms with the portrayals of blackness in The Carmichael Show. “Carmichael,” he says, “more like Stepin Fetchit.” To me, this guy represents a common type of misguided ally whose overzealous attempt to be anti-racist sadly precludes any acknowledgment of his own whiteness and privilege. This is the type of person who hoists the “we’re all just human” banner both because he dreams of an equal world and because he’d rather not grapple with the ways in which his whiteness makes him more human in the eyes of society today.
“How dare you compare Jerrod Carmichael to a minstrel,” I say to myself “when he has made a show that is actually attempting to say something.” I’m probably being too defensive. There are certainly problems with this show. Something in the affect and portrayal of the parents bothers me - something that feels too loud or too stereotypical or ripped from another time period. And as far as saying something, the show may move too quickly from topic to topic to be making a larger cohesive argument about being black in America.
But I admire that the show is going for it. And I feel this urge to defend Jerrod not just because his show is amazing, but because I know that a black performer shoulders the burden of speaking for the entire race. Being black and having a show that attempts to say something opens you up to shots from all sides. You are bound to make mistakes. And your mistakes are magnified ten fold. People argue about accent and stereotype, and they point out holes in your argument - all just because we are all so starved for progressive TV that “gets it right” for once.
Remember that, CJ. Challenging work invites criticism. It’s a magnet for trolls. It’s a sign you’re on to something. The burden is then on you to
1.) Know exactly what you are trying to say
2.) Own that you may at any time discover you’re going about it the wrong way.
3.) Be obsessed with figuring out how say it the right way.
Some examples of my favorite shows built around an argument:
1.) Treme: Pilot John Goodman’s riverfront speech is mixed in with footage of real New Orleanians watching the Treme premier. While I’d love to have a clean clip of just the pilot footage, it’s unexpectedly arresting to see people reacting to good writing that gives voice to their experience. How do I write something like that?
3.) Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Here’s a clip from his episode on Televangelism. For me, this is the height of social commentary. He’s not only brining up a political argument; he is going after wrong doers in the real world. I want to be that type of satire crusader.
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Original post: http://gocjhunt.tumblr.com/post/128787927693/voice-comedy-with-an-argument
CJ has an incredible voice. Check him out on Twitter (@gocjhunt), watch the web series he co-created (Sunken City), and check out his sketch/improv work (Stupid Time Machine).
Want to read something else by him? Check out this hilarious piece about the September boil advisory in New Orleans: "Boil Water Advisory: 5 Things We're All Wondering"
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