Key & Peele

In the previous issue of the New Yorker, an article was featured which discussed the comedy of Key and Peele. This article makes many interesting points, especially when it comes to the biracialism of both Key and Peele. For these comics, their biracialism gives them a freedom to comment on a variety of issues that normally might be considered taboo by comics. Joke critics, for instance, distinguish between "punching up" and "punching down"--taking a cheap shot at someone who is already weaker than you. However, these factors are often left up to the referee: "Dave Chappelle’s motive for abandoning his own Comedy Central show, after all, was in large part his discomfort with what, exactly, his white fans were laughing at."

The race dynamics play an integral part in the show's comedy dynamics. For instance, "in the show’s first-ever sketch, two men are standing on a corner, talking on cell phones. [One man is discussing ordering Orchestra tickets with his wife. Listening in on each another, they enter an unacknowledged arms race, their talk changing with every line, getting harder, more hip-hop, more slangy, as if they were competing to be the blacker black man." As the two men walk away from each other, one of the men says "Oh my God, I seriously almost got mugged." A similar comedic style is employed when two black men visit a soul food café, and immediately begin competing for the more "soulful" dish, and eventually end up ordering "DONKEY TEETH, straight out a donkey's mouth!" These skits comment on interesting racial dynamics within African American society, which Key and Peele have the ability to comment on given their biracial heritage.

What drew me to the comedy of Key and Peele, however, was their sketch of President Obama's anger translator, Luther. As we discussed in class, President Obama walks a very fine line when he's angry: he must not come across as the "angry black man" in fear of scaring the portion of American society who remembers the time of Black Nationalism. However, Luther responds to the clearly racist attacks and criticisms of President Obama: particularly, that Obama is a Muslim--Luther takes a loudspeaker and yells "I AM NOT A MUSLIM."  Luther also responds to Obama's political critics, and comments on Romney's claim that the election would be easier if he were Latino: Luther then asks Romney how he survived as a "rich white asshole" in America. When discussing the Tea Party, Luther says "You KNOW these people gunna say no before I even suggest some shit." Luther represents what Obama wishes he could say with impunity. However, because of his race, he walks a fine line between being stern and becoming the "angry black man" that many white Americans fear.

In a new skit, President Obama, played by Peele, teaches his Daughter Malia to drive. Malia, however, runs a stop sign and is pulled over by a white police officer. The officer approaches the car and soon realizes that the President is in the car, and offers to let them go. Obama, however, tells the officer to treat them as if he weren't the president--the officer takes Obama out of the car, slams him on the hood of the car, and arrests him. These kinds of skits again illuminate the kind of racism that the President may experience if he weren't the President.

These skits are excellent, and I suggest that everyone watch them on YouTube. 



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzprLDmdRlc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zDHSLDY0Q8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u00noK0_iTY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naUFIUZ2Ryc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qv7k2_lc0M

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/television/2013/09/30/130930crte_television_nussbaum