David Levy, composing for JewishBoston.com, recently challenged us at JWA to touch upon the gender/sexuality dynamic regarding the 2nd City’s brand brand brand new movie show, « Sassy Gay buddy.  » He composed:

There is a tradition that is long Judaism of imagining various variations of the most popular tales, from rabbinic midrash to contemporary novels. Comedy troupe The 2nd City has tossed their cap to the band this week by having a brand new youtube movie in their « Sassy Gay buddy » series.

If you’ren’t acquainted with the show, it began many months ago as a goof from the fate that is tragic of lots of Shakespeare’s heroines. Maybe, the videos advised, Ophelia, Juliet, look here Desdemona in addition to sleep will have had happier endings should they only possessed a BFF to guide them far from difficulty. (we are going to keep it to JWA when it comes to unavoidable deconstruction of exactly what these videos state about sex and sex. )

If that is a challenge, We accept. Some sense into them, and saves the day in the videos, Ophelia, Juliet, Desdemona and Eve are each about to do something stupid when their « sassy gay friend » steps in, talks. Within the movie below, the sassy homosexual friend prevents Eve from consuming the apple.

My, my. Where to start. « Sassy Gay buddy » extremely demonstrably plays on stereotypes — the label that homosexual males occur to be ladies’ « sassy homosexual friends » as well as the label that women are, since it is over and over stated when you look at the videos, « stupid bitches. « 

The very first issue right here may be the presumption that just what all the females do is stupid. Like, being murdered by the spouse, killing yourself, or consuming the apple. Why don’t we keep in mind why these females have actually in a few real method been abused, used, tormented, or tricked, and calling their actions « stupid » seems a little like blaming the target.

The problem that is second the the presumption that homosexual males are professionals at being females.

They are better at it because, well, they are perhaps maybe perhaps not ladies. They can see these scenarios more plainly since they don’t possess « brains crafted from rib.  » They are in a position to see these scenarios obviously since they aren’t straight guys and for that reason sidetracked by intimate attraction to females. They exist to teach women (and men on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) how to be « better » straight people since they occupy neither space. This really is clearly demeaning to right women and men, but additionally to homosexual males. In this label, homosexual guys occur and then assist right people, and generally are therefore paid down up to a role that is supporting frequently desexualized in order to not be threatening (think Stanford on Sex together with City).

Finally, we hate the expression « stupid bitch.  » The sassy homosexual buddy utilizes this to Juliet and Ophelia, then turns it in himself when you look at the videos about Eve and Desdemona. The expression « stupid bitch » is vile given that it invalidates ladies as real individuals with genuine desires, issues, psychological state problems, or viewpoints. He is stating that females do not have legitimate reasons behind acting the direction they do, they simply operate crazy since they’re « stupid bitches.  » By calling Juliet and Ophelia « stupid bitches,  » their alleged sassy friend that is gay the despair and heartbreak (and undoubtedly the misogynistic and paternalistic forces oppressing the ladies) behind every one of their suicides since well, silly. As a result, he’s not merely insulting females, but whoever has ever struggled with despair and ideas of committing committing suicide.

All of that being said, I really enjoyed these videos plenty. Incredibly unpleasant yes, but pretty funny too. This is the plain benefit of comedy — it plays on terrible stereotypes, is usually pretty offensive, and now we think it’s great. Simply glance at Joan streams, Sarah Silverman, and a variety of other comedians who possess made us laugh with extremely innapropriate humor.

The segment that is best, in my experience, could be the one about Juliet. Enjoy!