By: Valerie Tonn
Laughing is one of the many human emotions, driven from joyful moments like getting a new pet or winning an award (Lind, 2023). It can also be a complex emotion driven from moments of anger and sadness as a trauma response (Lind, 2023). Humor can be one of the sources that drives laughter, whether it be from stand up shows, SNL skits, your favorite movie etc (Lind, 2023). However, humor and laughter can be misdirected and misinterpreted at times, with comedians missing the mark with their jokes (Lind, 2023). Instead these moments the recognition that sometimes old tactics like jokes about race and stereotypes can be more recognizable as harmful (Lind, 2023).
One example of comedians missing the mark and creating harmful content is Amy Schumer’s parody of Beyoncé’s song “Formation” (Lind, 2023). Beyoncé’s song, released in 2016, acknowledged her black and creole heritage (Lind, 2023). The song referenced the Black Lives Matter movement as well as Hurricane Katrina (McEvers, 2016). The song also featuring lyrics and imagery around Black women and their features (McEvers, 2016). The video is known to be pro-Black, which Beyoncé’s intended to encourage their voice for the pain, struggles, history and darkness that can be associated with their heritage (Lind, 2023).
Amy Schumer alongside Goldie Hawn, whom both as white women were dancing and mouthing the words to the song in what appeared as mimicking, especially with the song’s culturally content (Lind, 2023). The parody fails to comprehend how white privilege gives this video a racist tone. Schumer argues that her take on “Formation” was feminist, encouraging strong women and make people laugh (Lind, 2023). However, if encouraging women means producing content that is not considerate and instead mocks them, that is not feminist or encouraging of women, rather tearing them down (Lind, 2023). Women supporting women and laughing should be done together, not in benefit of one race and hurtful to another (Lind, 2023).
References:
Lind, R. (2023). Race/Gender/Class/Media: Considering diversity across
audiences, content, and producers, 5th edition. New York, NY: Routledge
McEvers, K. (Host). (2016, Feburary 18). Beyonce's 'Formation' Is A Visual Anthem. In All Things Considered. NPR. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/466036710
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