Are we ready to laugh about rape? When so many people don’t comprehend the realities of sexual assault in the United States, I wonder if we’re ready to chuckle all-knowingly at a satirization of
pervasive myths about rape. Well, ready or not, the Daily Show
tackled the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” with scathing satire from comedian Kristen Schaal. With a straight face and Jon Stewart as her foil, she takes on the alarming concept of “forcible rape” being different from “regular rape-rape” and highlights how essential (and yet quite rare) it is that federal funding is available for abortion. When Kristin describes something as “rape-ish”, I wonder how many people laughed just because they were uncomfortable, not because they understood the absurdity of what she was saying. Do you think it was clear? Some are crediting Schaal with victory after the bill’s sponsors
removed “forcible” from the bill. If you haven’t told your
representative how you feel about this bill, take a minute now to do so.
Posts
Great thoughts Kristin. I can't believe they put "forcible" in the bill in the first place. As if there was a "better kind of rape" or a less detrimental kind. Ridiculous. I understand what they were trying to do with the satire but the sarcasm may have taken it too far. Rape should never be "funny." In regards to them changing the bill after this segment aired; I'm not sure the ends justified the means in this case.
ReplyDelete