Thought-provoking comedy and comedians

[Art Vandelay]

I was recently engaged in a conversation about Martin Luther King's idea that all labor has worth and dignity.

Someone made the comment that "I never minded 'work.'" It's an extremely privileged statement-- No sweatshop worker is going to tell you they never minded their 18 hour shifts. It put me in a mind to convey what real work and life is for some people and I couldn't help but think of what I consider a classic Chris Rock contrast piece on the difference between a job and a career.

I felt like recent musings from Dave Chappelle on the value of money-- "the fuel for choices"-- also fit into the conversation. After citing those two comedians, it made me think about just why I like their work so much. I love comedy that teaches and can be applied to real life circumstances and philosophies.

So I wanted to create this thread as a place where you can share comedy that you have found to be notable thought-provoking or that has resonance on a higher level.

Discussion of the ideas in and behind the comedy is welcome, as well.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I'll kick it off by sharing the Rock and Chappelle clips I referenced in the context that made me think of and share them:

What really angers me about this minimum wage debate is that, almost by definition, minimum wage workers aren't doing work they want-- or anybody wants-- to do.

If I was 45 years old and working at McDonald's, it would be hard to get up and go to work everyday. Or a construction worker-- One of the people who have to work hard to the bone all their lives. The way our society is advancing technologically and decaying educationally, some people can only progress so far. The kids who are lucky to have one working parent and condemned to shitty schools and graduate-- if they're in the half or so that does graduate-- reading at junior high school level or lower. Every person who does hard, unsatisfying work isn't an irresponsible drug addict or a bum with no aspirations but that's how they're stereotyped.

It is so great to love what you do. For some people, "work" isn't work. That is a privilege.

This piece brilliantly expresses the sentiment:




And, coincidentally, another great comedian made a relevant statement on the matter very recently:

START AT 10:23:

On his decision to pass up $50 million:

"Whenever there's something I'd like to have that I could've afforded that I can't now afford, well, then I'm upset about it. But then when I see a guy going to do a job that's time consuming and the doesn't have the free time to go and do the things that I get to do, then I feel good about it."​

Work can be soul-crushing. Look at how Chappelle views a regular job. And he's not even necessarily talking about McDonald's-- He could certainly be talking about the same middle class "career" people whom Rock compared to people who merely have jobs. It's one thing to find purpose in your work; it's another to find purpose in your work and work at your leisure, as Chappelle is successful and wealthy enough to do. In an America where middle class people work longer hours for more days taking less vacation, there should be far more compassion those among us at the bottom doing the least gratifying, most inglorious work.

 

[gene cisco]

Off the top of my head(since you named Chris Rock), I think of

George, Louie, and Chris...

Louie's view on death. I was watching one of Louie's specials, and he just said that there is a great chance someone in this theater is going to be dead in the next few months. Said one of you is going to ruin the holidays for your family and friends.... ....

It's something that is funny, but it makes you realize how precious life is. Here today, gone tomorrow.

 

[Art Vandelay]

 

[Costanza]

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