Bridging the Gap Betw
How
Justin Jones Li
ignore you. When it comes to issues of culture,
every militant Tumblr post, and every outraged
Culture is an elusive, nebulous thing. As a part Huffington Post article, is preaching to the choir.
of an individual’s identity, it can mean the whole It’s really great that there are ways to create
world or not have an iota of influence. Personally, solidarity in each section of the community, but
there’s nothing meaningful about being Chinese, the road to inter-cultural communication is paved
with hilarity.
beyond never being cast in movies or plays.
Okay, maybe I’m asking for a bit too much. Being
Chinese means that introductions are more fun,
owing to the verbal gymnastics I perform in order
to escape the confines of the stereotype. “I study
law—and also science! I also write plays! And
I sometimes do stand-up! In my spare time,
I play video games. And I enjoy going out on
weekends!” Incidentally, are Asian men more
unappealing to men or to women? I believe
there’s an expression about fussy beggars.
And now I descend gracefully from my soapbox.
One of the most challenging aspects of culture is
that it’s very much a public representation in the
minds of others. It’s not just something that forms
part of your identity: it makes you identifiable.
And with it come stereotypes and prejudices as
culture is exposed to private, collective scrutiny.
An engaging and permeable interface between
cultures is necessary to avoid mutual alienation.
Enter comedy, in all its calamity-vanquishing
glory.
Humour has always been the best way to
communicate uncomfortable ideas. In medieval
times, jesters would pass critique on their masters
without fear of swift disembowelment. Direct and
inflammatory rebukes never work on the people
who matter. The monarchs of yore would have
slain you, and the masses of today would just
Aamer Rahman, in his viral “reverse racism”
routine, illuminates the murky world of
institutionalised racism. Or in other words,
this world. But he doesn’t do it with academic
discourse or poetry slam. He simply states that
reverse racism would require a time machine, an
alliance between Africa, Asia and the Americas,
and the complete and utter ruining of Europe.
He’s just taking the piss, and we adore him
for it. Comedy lets us channel animosity into
agreement, because laughter is an agreeable
thing. Subversion is cheeky, impersonation is a
hoot, and let’s face it: white people really can’t
dance.
Of course, institutionalised racism is just one
divisive element between cultures. Whether it’s