UGANDANS IN THE BOOK OF MORMON

[A Director]

At the end of Griffin Matthews's powerful video, he says, The Book of Mormon is racist. I've seen it. I didn't laugh once and cringed at the Ugandans. Here are two articles about the show.

https://www.npr.org/2011/04/15/135437800/the-root-is-broadways-book-of-mormon-offensive

https://bulletin-archive.hds.harvard.edu/articles/summerautumn2012/cringe-worthy-depiction-africa

[SweetLips22]

I laughed at probably what I shouldn't, was certainly entertained and had nothing to analyse afterwards.

Not for everyone[nothing is], but I had fun.

[kade.ivy]

It’s called satire.

I’ve always thought of it as a statement on Western imperialism and condescension.

See Ann Harada’s recent statement on Avenue Q.

[Smaxie]

Or see this piece by Kim Exum, Broadway’s current Nabulungi, written for Broadway Black.
 

https://www.broadwayblack.com/my-book-of-mormon-family-by-kimberly-exum/

[Charley Kringas Inc]

I'm glad the cast members are having a good time, but I've never been particularly convinced of what the show is meant to be satirizing, and it also comes from two of the worst non-rapists in the last couple decades of media, so I'm not terribly fond of it.

[jimmycurry01]

Satire is one of the highest forms of comedy; unfortunately, it is understood by the fewest. When you stick with poop jokes, everyone gets it. When you poke fun at something in order to make social commentary, many people get upset and confused. It seems no one can make a modest proposal these days.

[Broadway Joe]

Charley Kringas Inc said: "I'm glad the cast members are having a good time, but I've never been particularly convinced of what the show is meant to be satirizing, and it also comes from two of the worst non-rapists in the last couple decades of media, so I'm not terribly fond of it."

What they are satirizing is literally the title of the musical lol

Matt and Trey would find your description of them hilarious. South Park is a brilliant show with tons of social commentary in it, it's just not for everyone. 

[Zion24]

the Uganadans are the ones in the play who see through the Book of Mormon/Book of Arnold,  and recognize that its a metaphor not to be taken literally. it is such a 2020 perspective to call out a play that primarily mocks/satirizes the Mormon religion and call it....racist.

 

[TheQuibbler]

I'm not sure I have a fully formed opinion on this, but even if it's satire, it is still asking black people to act out black stereotypes for the laughter of mostly white audiences. Parker/Stone think being "equal opportunity offenders" gets them out of accountability and I don't think that's true. 

[VintageSnarker]

Broadway Joe said: "Matt and Trey would find your description of them hilarious. South Park is a brilliant show with tons of social commentary in it, it's just not for everyone."

I think it's just of a different time. We need to leave libertarian edge lords and their ironic detachment and refusal to care and empathize in the past. 

[Broadway Joe]

VintageSnarker said: "I think it's just of a different time. We need to leave libertarian edge lords and their ironic detachment and refusal to care and empathize in the past."

When's the last time you actually watched? They have been doing a format of topical episodes for quite some time now, they make the episodes a week before they come out so it gives them plenty of room to touch on anything going on lately. 

[Sutton Ross]

It's been brilliant for decades now, that will never change. 

[darquegk]

And the past three seasons have been explicitly about growing out of libertarian nihilism and the importance of actually caring and owning your mistakes.

Parker and Stone are seemingly very aware that their libertarian period contributed to the rise of the alt-right, and have consciously pivoted HARD away from that.

[SweetLips22]

I dislike stand up comedy intensely but searching through Netflix I landed upon Daniel Sloss and his very dark humour. Not only his totally offensive subject matter but the way he brilliantly articulated on each subject was a master class.

I continued searching and discovered Anthony Jeselnik, Trevor Noah[love his and all of his accents], John Mulaney and Adam DeVine.

Tried a few of the female comics,even Amy Schuler[3 mins. was enough and she's worth MILLIONS] but don't cut it for me.

Perhaps someone can suggest a favourite.

Did watch ages ago the Asian female comic with a very potty mouth but her words were more shock than funny.

[Islander_fan]

I have always been partial to some of the greats/classics of the world of standup. George Carlin is, and will forever be my go to. He is a lover of work and  how they are used and also has made great social observations of things going on at the time he preformed them. Scary thing is, many of his social observations are as on point now as they were then. I just linked to youtube one of my favorite routines of his where he does he does a humorous breakdown of language used when flying. And, it's a big fan favorite.  

George Carlin's Airline Announcements

[Broadway61004]

I think this speaks to the broader issue of a lot of modern audiences not being able to separate portraying something onstage as condoning it (see the uproar surrounding Tootsie or Three Billboards or Tropic Thunder or any other cases that have come up recently--just because something is portrayed one way on stage or screen, doesn't mean the production is condoning it).

Zion24 said it perfectly--the Ugandans are the ones who ultimately see through the metaphors and deliver the true meaning of the story and it's their lack of awareness that allows them to get to that point.  Is that saying that all Ugandans are simple and unaware of the modern world?  Of course not.  Just like not all heavyset Utah boys think Africa is just like the Lion King.  Or all Mormon boys are in the closet with pink vests on underneath.  The whole show is filled with satire and playing everything to an extremely exaggerated level in order to prove its point.  That doesn't mean it's condoning racism.

And if someone sees it and is offended by it, then of course, they have every right to be offended.  But frankly, for someone to say that the creatives were intentionally being racist and forcing black actors to portray these characters when a) said person had nothing to do with the production and b) several actors have come out and claimed that's flat-out wrong--there's just no place for that kind of criticism.  If you don't like the show and were offended by it, totally okay--but don't start blaming a creative team you've never worked with and had nothing to do with.

[KJisgroovy]

"I think this speaks to the broader issue of a lot of modern audiences not being able to separate portraying something onstage as condoning it" 

This is so well articulated. I do wonder if this is a modern thing or an always thing? Anyway. It's something we should talk about more.  

[Broadway61004]

KJisgroovy said: ""I think this speaks to the broader issue of a lot of modern audiences not being able to separate portraying something onstage as condoning it"

This is so well articulated. I do wonder if this is a modern thing or an always thing? Anyway. It's something we should talk about more."

Thank you!  It seems like this is something I've really only heard regularly for the past 20 years or so, but I'm sure it's been going on forever, just getting more and more prevalent now.  But I've always wondered, did people really think Stephen Sondheim was encouraging folks to chop up their enemies into meat pies?  Because anymore, I wouldn't be surprised.

[VintageSnarker]

darquegk said: "And the past three seasons have been explicitly about growing out of libertarian nihilism and the importance of actually caring and owning your mistakes.

Parker and Stone are seemingly very aware that their libertarian period contributed to the rise of the alt-right, and have consciously pivoted HARD away from that."

Fair point. For my mental health, I've stopped engaging with stuff like that but good for them if they've made changes in the show. Speaking of stand ups, I just can't with Ricky Gervais anymore. Good female standups? Katherine Ryan, Hannah Gadsby, Naomi Ekperigin, Emily Heller, Michelle Wolf, Aisling Bea, Jena Friedman, Wanda Sykes, Giulia Rozzi, Cristela Alonzo, Nina Tarr... Also, try some James Acaster or Bo Burnham. I've really come to appreciate comedy that punches up or that doesn't feel the need to be edgy or shocking or mean. 

[darquegk]

Today I DID see a post from a former Ugandan in the show, who does articulate feeling demeaned performing this material for long periods of time. So it’s not just virtue signaling from white liberals.

[Islander_fan]

TheQuibbler said: "I'm not sure I have a fully formed opinion on this, but even if it's satire, it is still asking black people to act out black stereotypes for the laughter of mostly white audiences. Parker/Stone think being"equal opportunity offenders" gets them out of accountability and I don't think that's true."

Yet, this is not the first time in entertainment where we are seeing someone who is black, laughing at black stereotypes for the sake of a white audience. Just take a look at the Mel Brooks film Blazing Saddles. 

[Call_me_jorge]

SweetLips22 said: "I dislike stand up comedy intensely but searching through Netflix I landed upon Daniel Sloss and his very dark humour. Not only his totally offensive subject matter but the way he brilliantly articulated on each subject was a master class.

I continued searching and discovered Anthony Jeselnik, Trevor Noah[love his and all of his accents], John Mulaney and Adam DeVine.

Tried a few of the female comics,even Amy Schuler[3 mins. was enough and she's worth MILLIONS] but don't cut it for me.

Perhaps someone can suggest a favourite.

Did watch ages ago the Asian female comic with a very potty mouth but her words were more shock than funny."

Aparna Nancherla, Ali Wong, Beth Sterling, and Michelle Wolf are some of my favorite female comics.

[GavestonPS]

SweetLips22 said: "I dislike stand up comedy intensely but searching through Netflix I landed upon Daniel Sloss and his very dark humour. Not only his totally offensive subject matter but the way he brilliantly articulated on each subject was a master class.

I continued searching and discovered Anthony Jeselnik, Trevor Noah[love his and all of his accents], John Mulaney and Adam DeVine.

Tried a few of the female comics,even Amy Schuler[3 mins. was enough and she's worth MILLIONS] but don't cut it for me.

Perhaps someone can suggest a favourite.

Did watch ages ago the Asian female comic with a very potty mouth but her words were more shock than funny."

You're in Australia, right? Do you know Hannah Godsby? I discovered her on Netflix by accident and she may be the smartest stand-up since George Carlin. She has two specials on the platform: the first is a mixture of funny and serious, the second is mostly just funny. I can't recommend her too highly!

Otherwise, I am partial to John Mulaney, Bill Burr and Christopher Titus.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

FFS it's satire.  Grow up.

 

[latitudex1]

BenjaminNicholas2 said: "FFS it's satire. Grow up.

"

Telling anyone, "It's satire! Suck it up, snowflake!" is conducive to nothing.

Especially if the intent of the material is to illicit discussion.

If someone feels hurt or offended by something, discuss it! Maybe you can learn from a different perspective. That is what the theater is mainly about beyond entertainment.