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Dreams of Dame Edna
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the brunt
Posted by
Hilary Johnson
3/27/2003 5:12:49 PM
I would also add that Dame Edna and Shaq differ, because Dame Edna is already a parody of herself. Wonder if there have ever been...
I would also add that Dame Edna and Shaq differ, because Dame Edna is already a parody of herself. Wonder if there have ever been any outraged upper-middle class Australian widows?
Really, one could say that it is a certain type of woman who bears the brunt of Dame Edna's humor.
Poking Fun at Everyone
Posted by
Catherine Wallace
3/14/2003 8:59:37 PM
I will probably get myself pegged for this, and that isn't my intention, but I think Dame Edna is quite funny. Let's face it, we...
I will probably get myself pegged for this, and that isn't my intention, but I think Dame Edna is quite funny. Let's face it, we live in the greatest country in the world, and we rally for all kinds of minority groups. Sadly, we have no sense of humor.
The English and the Australians have been long-standing experts in the realm of comedy, but they are quite different from anything we have in the United States. Some of the funniest shows I have seen come from the BBC; in particular, the skit about the dead Norwegian Blue parrot performed by Monty Python makes the tears run down my cheeks.
All other things being equal, the Brits are irreverant and bawdy, but it's all in good fun. Frankly, they take a good stab at just about everything held sacred, and have helped me to take a good hard look at myself and realize I have been very silly, indeed.
My hat's off to Dame Edna, and her off-color humor. I try and respect all differences in cultures. However, I also realize that we have become a litigious society, demanding that we all be politically correct on everything - becoming so tasteless and homogenized that we are now unrecognizable.
The irony is that if we see people who are minorities making fun of themselves, we all laugh - but if someone else does the same thing, then it is called racism and bigotry.
It's all a matter of perspective.
For the love of writing,
Catherine Wallace
Learn to lighten up
Posted by
Philip Youngman
3/3/2003 7:00:34 PM
Unfortunately for most Americans, the existence of Barry Humphries is a relatively new discovery. Not that the character is really that difficult...
Unfortunately for most Americans, the existence of Barry Humphries is a relatively new discovery. Not that the character is really that difficult to grasp, I have had the advantage of following her evolution since the 60's when first created as satiric look at Australia.
As times have changed, so too has the character taking on a more international flavour, but at the heart is still there primarily for a laugh and to show us how ridiculous we can all be.
You obviously can't appreciate the humour, and I really think you show a seriously blinkered view. Do you realise the weak shot you're taking at one of the most talented character actors and sharpest wits of the last 50 years.
Stop taking yourselves so seriously! The day that Americans can learn to laugh at themselves will truly be a great day.
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