When does funny cross the line?

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Permalink Reply by neonboxers on April 21, 2009 at 7:34pm

I agree w/ tubejay. I mean, while the scene is crude and morally questionable, a joke is a joke. This movie is not the only media, and Rogen is not the only actor to portray something like this. If we target him and the crew, shouldn't we target all media that has joked about issues such as this one? It's too much.

I really don't think this was meant to send the message to young men that date rape is okay. It just fit within the context of a movie. Sex sells, portrayed as consentual or not. It's sad, but it's true. I'd have to think that the majority of people know the difference between what's right and wrong. The people behind this movie were just looking to make the audience laugh, and the audience watching went in with that expectation. If you disagree with it, just don't go see the film.

I don't think funny can cross the line, because everyone's definition of what's funny, and what's acceptable is different. While certain things may ofend certain people, another group may find it hilarious. As someone who actually went through that kind of expierience, I personally don't find the scene funny. Therefore, I won't be supporting the film. I don't believe Rogen should apologize though, the man's just doing what he's good at, and getting paid in the process.


I guess what I'm trying to say is, to each his own.

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Permalink Reply by Laurence on April 21, 2009 at 9:02pm

I have to say, I found that particular end bit of the movie... At first wrong... Then Absolutely hilarious because of her response!! :P

In terms of the whole movie, I can't fully judge without seeing the whole film (Which isn't out in the UK till this friday). But after having seen that trailer I'm convinced that Feministing/the above woman is not reading between the lines here.

Observation number 1: in this film Rogan is clearly playing a different role from his past (likable/good time/ wacky/walking tripod/stoner - delete as appropriate) characters. He's branching out, similar to what Jim Carrey did in "The Cable Guy" (one of my fave films and performances ever). Based on what I can tell from the trailer alone, he's playing a character who's - both mentally and educationally speaking - "several billion short of a bailout". And that's outside of his interactions with - again judging by the trailer - the most self destructive female character in film history who's got more issues than private eye's back catalogue (an analogy I have used before :P ).

Observation number 2: Again, judging by the trailer footage... outside of that particular scene, This movie is a satire of (wannabe?) vigilante-ism (sp?) and the type of person(s?) that develop into them.

From a personal perspective, I love Dirty, filthy, sexist, Sick and satirical humor. As proof I'm sure many of you have read my contributions to the joke thread. As i mentioned elsewhere I'm also a keen Surfer of Sickipedia. Just to reiterate, that site is quite possibly the Biggest store of Sick and politically incorrect jokes on the internet that I've come across. If there is a news event that you found sad about something or someone, there will be a joke about it. Likewise if you are of a certain race or nationality, there will be a joke about that too (so you all have been warned... Again :P ). There has been jokes there both about things that affect my life... Italy's recent earthquake, And the 16 Men that lost their lives in a helicopter crash off the North east Scottish coast for example... I take the same method of transportation to work as well. And you know what? I laughed at those Jokes too, because there has been other stuff that I found funny and equally as sick/politically incorrect as that as well about stories and news that affect other people, I've phased out hippocriticism (ie be offended at humor on one subject matter, and not others) from my persona. If that "modern" woman from feministing really does appreciate sick and dirty humor like she says she does then maybe she should take that into account!! @>:-[

As a result I think that girl/feministing needs to toughen up in the humor stakes if they found that offensive. They should watch/Youtube/torrent stuff from the likes of Frankie Boyle:


Kevin Bloody Wilson:


And a relevant mention Chris Morris's Stuff from British Satires The Day Today and Brass Eye. One particular Genius episode was when they did the Episode "paedo-geddon" Making humor and satire From Paedophilia, and the Lynch mob/histrionic mentality it brings on. Watch it here (+ part 2. and Part 3)

And many more besides

To conclude, There's plenty of other things in the world that will Convey similar and worse themes than what is suggested by that film/Rogan. The free roaming worlds of The GTA games for one, and the Manhunt games in the other. The film Hostel was also something I found quite shocking, but that doesn't make me wanna Butcher some American backpackers in a dungeon!! I like to think of myself as someone who has a good sense of right and wrong, and live by it! If seeing the sight of Rogan's character grind against a vile example of womanhood influences certain male members of the human species to do the same, then there's a good chance that there's a few screws lose in their head to begin with!!

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Permalink Reply by d-dave on April 22, 2009 at 2:02pm

I don't even know where to start. I think I would have to say that this is just as bad as any other joke and would have to agree in general with everyone else here. It is hard to say that one joke is more or less bad than any other. To do so would be hypocritical especially if you ever have laughed any another joke that is in the expense of anyone or thing (unless its yourself but who knows maybe we shouldn't even have the right to make fun of ourselves...)

Anyways my point is that I think comedy is exactly that, its comedy and if you don't like it than the best thing you can do is make sure you do not support it. That all about you can do because to say it is immoral or incorrect you would have to take in major consideration of your own accountability on the topic (i.e. like tubejay so adequately points out, are you yourself blameless on any level of the offense?).

Now say you are that person blameless person than you are saying something else that maybe comedy in all is completely amoral and we should change the whole institute. I would have to disagree, I think humor is humor I think the humor is no longer humor when it is directly meant to cause someone pain or grief and unfortunately that is a very gray line. It is very hard to distinctly judge a person's intentions so I would have to say that humor should be wielded with caution so that it is not misinterpreted but at the same time I feel like people shouldn't always jump to the "that is Offensive" card. We should laugh at ourselves, I mean we all are imperfect so we are going to do imperfect things, and a lot of the time those things are funny.

In this case I feel like it is one of those Seth Rogen going to town and I even think he is closing his eyes as she passes out. To him opening his eyes to find oh crap she passed out and to stop not proceed, until the punch line "why are you stopping, motherfucker" "Oh, sorry oh god oh sorry"

Sure it isn't the best circumstances but this has happened. Certainly wasn't Seth Rogen's fault she drank all those shots.... hence the ooo shots as she downs several of them.

Anyways all in all seems just like another joke, just the same as any. At least not worst than the yo' mama' jokes .... I love my mama!

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Permalink Reply by ksawyer on April 22, 2009 at 9:48pm

I have a question. At what point is he sexually assaulting her? Is it when she downs his prescription medicine? Is it when she throws up after he drove her home and he kisses her while saying "I accept you?" Is it when he stops having sex with her because it appears that she is asleep? Or is it when he continues when she asks him why he stopped, a line that clearly communicated consent (I wouldn't go as far as say "enjoyment", but "why'd you stop motherfucker?" is definitely consent). Or is it when he saves her life (sort of) even after she's betrayed him?

I agree with the woman in the video that sexual assault isn't funny, and that the statistics are saddening and that work should be done to prevent acts of date rape, abuse, etc. But this scene hardly qualifies as any kind of "example" of typical date rape.

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Permalink Reply by Professor Imagine on April 22, 2009 at 11:13pm

as someone who has frequently sacrificed all levels of decency and tact for the sake of a joke (whether or not it amuses "the masses" or "the audience" tends to be irrelevant, as long as it amuses me... and I crack myself up! back me up here laurence!), I can speak with a certain degree of empathy towards the writers of this film. it is quite natural to imagine them riffing on a scenario between these two non-hero/non-heroine "love" interests and ending up with this scene. it seems to illustrate the level of depravity they were aiming at with these characters, not to mention being an outright hilarious line to deliver.

comedy's job is not to solve problems, it is merely to point them out. the skewed perspective is designed to allow us to approach an issue indirectly and with a degree of levity rather than confronting it from a completely personal and visceral angle. nowhere is this technique executed more perfectly and consistently than south park. they seem to have realized very early on that it may take an image like martha stewart taking a turkey up the ass to get everyone's attention long enough to make their point.

just my thoughts.

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Permalink Reply by Wardere on April 25, 2009 at 12:39am

When does funny cross the line? Hmm. I watched the movie and I don't know if there's a right answer or a wrong answer. They were actors trying to make a funny movie but brought up a serious life issue. Should we take their roles as an act and not be serious about it?

That's all I can say.

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Permalink Reply by sunjana1 on April 25, 2009 at 7:49am

if you don't know what to expect by now with movies such as these...wow.
crossing the line happens when you get this type of scene/humor from an unexpected source - say something that was marketed as a 'family movie'. but where's the last example of that happening? people who attend these types of movies know exactly what kind of humor they're going to get.
as far this (imho) poor excuse for a vlogger - how about pointing the finger at Faris a bit too? one could presume she read the script.

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