[irrelig]Anthropology Professor Ewa Wasilevska returns to discuss the content of a few classes she teaches at the University of Utah, including Anthropology of Humor and Laughter, Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, and a class on Death Rituals and Mummification. The result is quite interesting as we introduce Dr. Wasilevska to new ways to offend.
Catch it here.
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7 Responses to “46: Egypt, Mummies, Humor”
I’ve not seen any of the Amazing Racist videos but I was surprised the guest seems to have suddenly shifted her position. Borat’s racism was okay in context but the Amazing Racist isn’t.
I guess there’s a fine line missed by many between laughing AT a racist and laughing WITH a racist. Archie Bunker was the classic example. He was intended by the writers as someone we were to laugh at. We were to laugh at his bigoted, sexist ideas. It was kind of the superman vs the KKK concept. The KKK lost its authority when the superman radio series made the KKK look like fools.
Unfortunately, with Archie Bunker, many in the audience believed Archie Bunker was offering a cogent defense of their views. Oish.
Briefly looking over the titles I would think:
1) Man in klan outfit wants to buy gas: the irony of a guy trying to keep up a 19th century concept and interact with 21st century society.
2) Man dressed as a geisha goes to a chinese restaurant: when does cultural appropriation become truly offensive?
3) Man drops Mexicans off in front of immigration: Isn’t that exactly what some people really want to do?
Anyway, her shift was a minor quibble and I really enjoyed her as a guest and the whole ep in general.
I’ll have to check out the Amazing Racist videos online (can’t really watch ’em at work) and see if the series is meant to make us laugh at the ideas (“I can’t believe people really think these things and expect to carry on in modern society”) or they’re meant to reinforce certain stereotypes.
Link should be http://www.irreligiosophy.com/podcasts/046_wasilevska.mp3
Oops! Corrected. Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-yYhq3nOng
Christopher Hitchens comments on the Danish cartoons. He certainly has a way of tearing the opponent to shreds with finely sharpened, well reasoned words.
You’ve probably already seen this, but…
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/01/02/ireland.blasphemy.law/index.html
It’s not related to this Podcast, but I found it interesting regardless…
Hei guys, thanks to you I found it. I was a atheist but after listening to the shows I changed my mind. THERE IS A GOD AN HE IS LEIGHTON!!! I start listening to all the shows again in sequence and I realized that Leighton must be a god because in most of the shows he says that he dated some girl. Almost in every episode he talks about a girl that he dated and its always related to the show. Come on, not even a being with all power could date that many girls. Leighton, you are a liar! Or maybe in all of the shows you are talking about the same girl and she is the only one. I dont Know, but if they are different girls you are my god and my hero! Peace.
Ah, Cavaco, you are the one Charley was referring to in the last podcast. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a god or anybody’s hero, but Charley believes I go through women like toilet paper. The only problem there is he’s been with the same woman since his youth. I believe his scale is a bit skewed.
Oddly enough, at work I did have the UPS guy pull up and tell me I was in high demand right out of the blue. When I asked him what he meant he pointed out that I knew about the woman being interested up and down the street. It was right after this that I discovered the nickname for me around here is “manwhore”.
Have no fear though, my sisters and altar boys in a 20 mile radius are safe. At least for the next eleven months. As difficult as I’m finding it to be, I’ve given up women in order to build a business. We all know women consume money as much as they do time and these are luxuries I cannot afford until the business is up and running. Maybe I can borrow one of Charley’s Thai refugees and keep her locked up in the back room…….