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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Stewart Lee (again) takes on the Wokefinder General

61 replies

SerendipityJane · 04/05/2020 10:55

since SL was slated here recently, here's an excuse to have another go Smile

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/03/we-must-honour-those-brave-souls-working-with-ricky-gervais

Every Tuesday at 8.45pm, I stand in the silent lane alone and bang my Le Creusets in support of a group of brave people who must never be forgotten; unsung martyrs who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves working at the very heart of a terrible unfolding disaster of an unprecedented scale – the cast of the second series of Ricky Gervais’s After Life (Netflix).

Denied proper support or protection, in the form of three-dimensional characters or plausible dialogue, these simple actors, almost two of them from an ethnic minority, are forced instead to mouth lines apparently designed merely to cement public perceptions of their author’s own genius, like old beggars under sacks. And yet they solider on, the real heroes of our times, discharging their duties with professionalism and dignity, lions led by a dong. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them.

I’m joking of course! But should anything be off-limits for humour, especially during the horror of The Corona Virus (Wuhan Bat and Pangolin Snack ™ ® Co Ltd)? It’s a question answered by Ricky Gervais himself in a syndicated Press Association interview provided free to the Aberdeen Evening Express, and newspapers nationwide, in March. The “Wokefinder General” (Sarah Vine, Daily Mail) concluded: “There is no better tool to get you through bad things… than with a sense of humour.” I am sure this was a sentiment shared privately by his cast every day during the filming of After Life (Netflix).

(contd)

OP posts:
Haworthia · 04/05/2020 11:51

I was a fan, going right back to the 90s, but now I just find him angry, sneering and bitter.

Also, what @Z0rr0 said.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 04/05/2020 11:38

Exactly. It's a piss poor, confused article. And I say that as someone who usually likes his stuff, even though I roll my eyes at his kool aid idiocy.

CodenameVillanelle · 04/05/2020 11:37

I don't get it
After life was great. There are too many extraneous words and sentences that are attempting half-marathons they are running so far in this article to make it enjoyable to read.

Helmetbymidnight · 04/05/2020 11:34

Stewart Lee's show was all about how he hated other comedians. He knows how misanthropic it makes him look and embraces it - Its become his thing hasn't it.

I quite liked the article too.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 04/05/2020 11:30

It doesn't say great things about someone's writing style when you find yourself skimming over entire paragraphs in an attempt to stave off naptime.

Kantastic · 04/05/2020 11:26

Oh, I'm aware he's on the religious right. I guess I don't have the kind of rarefied, refined woke sensibilities that would cause me to be disgusted by the concept of a religious fanatic having sex.

nauticant · 04/05/2020 11:26

I suppose this is another thread for us all to marvel at how stunningly intelligent Lee is.

The main thing I get about Lee is that for us plebs to properly understand, much of his humour needs to be explained. In long, drawn-out, and tedious detail.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 04/05/2020 11:20

Mike Pence looks like a fairly unremarkable older white man, it's some of his odd religious beliefs that are the problem.

Kantastic · 04/05/2020 11:17

I got nothing from that other than him not liking After Life very much. And having a peculiar, horrified fixation with thoughts of Mike Pence sexually interacting with other humans (thankfully I can't remember what Mike Pence looks like, so I had no response whatsoever to what I assume was intended to be gross-out humour for people more politically informed than I.)

This seems so off topic for FWR that I'm tempted to report it. Are Mr Lee's sexual fantasies about Mike Pence somehow relevant to women's rights?

Warning to anyone thinking of clicking that link: I think Lee's ambiguously ironic pompous buffoon writing style is infectious. Hopefully I will shake off the symptoms soon.

Z0rr0 · 04/05/2020 11:14

Christ that's a hideously clunky column. A lot going on there to unpick which unlike Lee I can't really find the energy or the many words required to do. Seems mostly fuelled by the fact he dislikes Gervais and his humour and people who enjoy his humour and he dislikes being turned into a crappy meme.
(I was SO gutted to hear Lee had also drunk the trans KoolAid. I usually think he's very witty. This column is not an example of that.)

RRocket · 04/05/2020 11:02

I love Stew.