RAPE JOKES (dunn dunn duuunnnnn)

Wow, the last time I posted was July 7th with my brilliant entry: First Time Drunk Blogging.
Here's my excuses for slacking: 1. I'm clearly a drunk. 2. I feel more than compelled to tackle issues such as rape and gender in my comedy blog. 3. It's difficult to convince myself to sit down and try to articulate my views on rape and gender as they relate to comedy on a blog that probably nobody will read except my Mom. (Love you MOM!)4. I'm so lazy I have to literally bribe myself to get out of bed in the morning with the promise of donuts and coffee.
However, until I get some of this off my chest, I simply cannot go on!

Rape Jokes: I can't even TELL YOU how many crappy rape jokes I've heard on the regular at comedy clubs, in the office (especially when I worked for our campus's Women's Center), on a first date, on t.v., etc... My friend, comedian Jesse Wilson at an open mic night commented that rape jokes are like the new airline food jokes.

So why the trend? What's with that? What's the deal? Is this thing on? Nope? OKAY.

One time I talked to a man...(rimshot)... and... I told him that I was a comedian as well and an activist who works among other things on rape prevention. He laughed to himself, looked down and said, "Huh, that's ironic." Why is this ironic? Oh because rape is funny. If rape is funny and I'm anti rape then I am not funny. I took logic. I know my modus tollens. The feeling I had after this moment is the same one I get when someone tells me a joke to push my buttons and they tell me "Look, it's a joke," when I don't laugh. "A joke, what's that?" I must not understand humor because I don't respond to some dude coming into the Women's Center and saying something like "Oh is this where the vulnerable chicks hang out?" or "Oh is this where I get my laundry done?" It's not that you're so edgy that I'm shocked and offended, I'm fucking bored. It's not original or subversive. It's been done. It's mainstream. Rape is mainstream. Rape jokes are mainstream. You know why I don't laugh at jokes that poke (haha) at getting the unnatractive, insecure, girl with a bad childhood drunk and taking her home? Because not only have I heard it a million times before and don't think it's interesting, I'm not sure you're kidding.

Alright Jessica, give people the benifit of the doubt... What about satire? If you knew the guy, you'd know that he's being ironic. Because he's such a good guy he can sarcastically talk about raping women. This is the same guy that isn't being racist, he's making fun of racism.

I'm not trying to say that I'm perfect or that I don't make mistakes. I'm priveleged in so many ways and access it in ways that oppress others. But I think that we all need to try harder to not oppress others. You know? Otherwise, what are we doing? I would really hope that someone would tell me if something I did or said was hurtful or further normalizing stereotypes or perpetuating systems of oppression.

Don't get me wrong: I recognize that there is grey area... especially in comedy. Some of the best jokes are complex and leave me feeling like I need to think about it and why I'm laughing. I also don't think that avoiding subjects altogether makes the issue go away. What's important to me in a joke and whether or not it's appropriate is: who's saying it, why are they saying it, how are they saying it, who is the audience, what is the audience really laughing at, is it interesting/ different and IS IT FUNNY?!

Please Please Please feel free to give commentary and/ or related comedy!