• itsajoke

    Oct 11, 05:32 PM by administrator

    It’s A Joke!: Politically Correct Comedy

    Sun. Nov. 5th, 1:30 PM

    Comedy can be as influential on attitudes and perceptions as any medium. Therefore, with the use of ethnic stereotypes in comedy, where is the line between empowerment and racism? Under what circumstances can it be destructive, and when can it be empowering? Excerpts from two features provide the context for the panel discussion that follows. First, comedy sketch excerpts from MIGHTY WARRIORS OF COMEDY tackle socio-political issues. Then excerpts from Nilesh Patel’s award-winning, yet controversial, first feature BROCKET 99 – ROCKIN’ THE COUNTRY, takes a hard look at relations between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Canada through a discussion of the audio tape, Brocket 99.

    Mighty Warriors Of Comedy (sketch excerpts)



    Director/Writer: Sung H. Kim | Producers: Kibi Anderson, Sung H. Kim
    Documentary | Beta | Colour | 2006 | 20 minutes | USA

    MIGHTY WARRIORS OF COMEDY is a unique documentary about the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, an audacious sketch comedy troupe of Asian-Pacific Islanders hailing from San Francisco that you’ve never heard of. Formed in 1994, they tackle socio-political issues with a hilarious combination of irreverence and seriousness, taking their audiences on a wild ride as they showcase the cultural activism behind the humor.

    Canadian Premiere

    Brocket 99 – Rockin’ The Country (excerpts)



    Director/Writer/Producer: Nilesh Patel
    Documentary | Beta | Colour | 2005 | 10 minutes | Canada

    In the mid-1980s, an audiotape made in Lethbridge, Alberta began circulating throughout Canada and parts of the U.S. It was ostensibly a morning radio show by members of the First Nations community of Brockett, Alberta. In 2004, Nilesh Patel and his crew embarked on a road trip across Western Canada to talk to fans of the tape, foes of the tape, and everyone in between. They were able to capture the unguarded opinions of Canadians of their perceptions of Aboriginal life, while revealing insight into the spread of racist humour. At times angry, at times moving, but surprisingly candid throughout.

    Selected Awards:
    Best Documentary, Montreal First People’s Festival, 2006
    Official Selection by Invitation, Calgary International Film Festival, 2005

    Vancouver Premiere | Director in Attendance

    Panel Discussion to Follow

    The Politics Of Being Politically Correct

    The term “Politically Correct” or “PC” according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

    adjective: conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated

    “PC” language and behaviour is both feared as thought policing or championed as advocating a more pluralistic, multicultural, race, gender, and class-sensitive society.

    The practice of labeling certain language, behaviours and attitudes as either correct or incorrect has been around a long time. However, this term in its present form became popular in the West during the mid to late 1970‘s mainly from English translations of Maoist literature.

    As “Political Correctness” spreads from the government political arena and into the socio-political field, there is much confusion as to what are politically correct terms and behaviours, who decides and how do they get co-opted into the mainstream consciousness? This year VAFF, through its panel discussion series, hopes to address two facets of Political Correctness: Comedy and Labels.

    Part 2: It’s A Joke!: Politically Correct Comedy

    Where is the line between comedy and racism? Under what circumstances are ethnic stereotypes destructive, and when can they be empowering? Some comedians have made a career from racist or stereotypical humour, citing that they are taking the power away from racist words and names.

    This debate is sure to be lively and insightful with our panel of academics, comedians and filmmakers. No matter what your take, come out and give your two bits on whether or not racist humour is empowering or exploitive.

    The Panelists


    Rhoda Gravador


    Rhoda Gravador is the last member to join the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors. Before completely immersing herself into sketch comedy, she was a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the pursuit of becoming an opera singer. Now, she just likes to make people laugh.



    Kuan Foo


    Kuan Foo is a member of the critically acclaimed sketch comedy troupe, ASSAULTED FISH. His writing has appeared in Bambooda, Banana Magazine, Fuse, Rungh, The JCCA Bulletin, The Nikkei Voice, Ricepaper, Schema and The Tyee.



    Rob Ho


    Rob Ho is an instructor in the Asia-Canada Program at Simon Fraser University and in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Douglas College. Currently Vice President of the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC, Rob holds an M.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. (Honours) from Carleton University.


    Cowboy Smithx


    Cowboy Smithx is a writer, filmmaker, pseudocomedian and performing artist. He is Aboriginal and comes from the Blackfoot community in Southern Alberta. Currently, he is completing final year of the Full Circle: First Nations Performance – Ensemble Performing Arts Training Program. Cowboy has over 100 public performances on his resume and will be presenting a solo piece at the Talking Stick Festival in February 2007.


    Tom Chin


    Moderator: Tom Chin has performed, written and directed standup, sketch comedy, radio plays, theatre and television shorts in the Pacific Northwest under the banner of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre since 1999. He bristles when he is classified as the Yellow Race, especially since he’s an off-tan ochre.


    This program is made possible by the generous support of the

    Celebrity Host for this program:

    Sunita Prasad


    Originally from Saskatchewan, Sunita always had a love for the arts. Torn between acting and drawing, she decided to go after the latter, studying classical animation. She never forgot her other passion, however, finally moving to Vancouver to recur on Godiva’s and Fantastic Four – the animated TV series, and to also work on Da Vinci’s Inquest, Killer Instinct, and Saved.


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