Post 5: Feminism and the female comic

Comedian is foreseen as an acceptable role for a feminist due to the fact that comedy is a medium that allows for social issues to be addressed in a lighthearted manner. Gilbert focuses in on female comedians such as Phyllis Diller and Roseanne Barr to convey how feminism and comedy intertwine. For instance, both women utilize self depreciation humor as a way to get their foot in the door. They then begin to use this style of humor to discuss and address feminism and various other social issues. According to Gilbert this self depreciation humor is a popular form for female comedians to employ in order to gain popularity.

However, while there might be feminist undertones to the comedy that Phyllis Diller, Roseanne Barr, and other female comics perform this does not necessarily mean that these women are feminists nor does it mean that all their comedy is directed at feminism. For example, the show Roseanne can be viewed from both ends of the spectrum. A person might argue that since Roseanne does not play into the traditional stereotypical role of what a mother, wife, sister, daughter should be then she takes a feminist stance. Likewise, the show can also be seen one that does not take a feminist perspective due to the fact that Roseanne answers to men in her jobs or at home and that while the role of mother and wife is skewed from what we might consider the traditional role to be she is performing essentially a similar role. Not to mention the show was produced and directed by her husband. While the show can be seen from either viewpoint over all it appears to touch on aspects of feminism rather than define itself as one or the other.

Female comedians such as Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers, and Roseanne Barr aided in paving the way for future female comedians to address ideas of feminism and other social concerns. I often wonder if these female comedians realize or believe they are making connections to feminism or is they feel as though they are simply performing observational comedy. Ellen DeGeneres is an example of a female comedian who employs observational comedy. She has several bits in which she pokes fun at women and how women interact with one another and I wonder does she view this as comedy with feminist undertones or simply as observational comedy?

post 4: the art of expression

The art of expression essentially allowed for women to be groomed for society. Expression schools taught women how to behave as ladies and bred them to be débutantes. The article focuses primarily on the art of expression within Dallas which as we know is a predominantly wealthy city where families could afford to properly educate their daughters in the ways of society and how to act as a lady. While this occurred and still occurs nationally and globally it is a rite of passage for women in the south. Cities often still have a débutante season where women don large white dresses and are put on parade in order to show their transformation from girl to woman by simply learning the art of expression.

These expression schools appear to be nothing more than glorified manners school who educate young women on the Emily Post version of how a lady is to act. That is to say how a woman performs as a wife, mother, friend, how to carry oneself in social settings and the like. The only difference appears to be the débutante aspect; upon completion of the expression education women were given coming out parties in place of commencement ceremonies or rather these coming out parties were a new form for the commencement ceremony only with style and expression.

The art of expression in regards to women is still prevalent in our society. We see this not only with débutante festivals and parades; where I grew up we had the Rose Festival which showcased the transformation of girls to women of that specific year or more simply put débutante season. We see the art of expression currently in areas such as cheerleading, elementary education, dancers, and so on. While men dabble in the above mentioned areas they are fields still perceived as suitable for women and are considered feminine roles. The art of expression remains prevalent it has only gone through somewhat of a transformation itself.