For me, the recent release of the movie 'Bridesmaids' was somewhat of a landmark. So few (funny) comedies have female protagonists, let alone an entire cast of funny women that drives a clever and entertaining plot. The goofy characters are almost always relegated to the likes of Adam Sandlers, Seth Rogens and this guy, abdigating women to the object of desire, as Laura Mulvey wrote in 1975.
In an article by Vanity Fair 'Who Says Women Aren't Funny?', writer Alessandra Stanley quotes Joan Rivers, saying "men find funny women threatening. They ask me 'are you going to be funny in be?'" Or is it just a big joke?
It got me thinking about local YouTube phenomenon Natalie Tran. Her use of humour in her observational blogs have widespread appeal, so much so that she was one of YouTube's highest earners of 2010, raking in more than $100, 000 from banner advertising, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Attracting up to 34 + million views for this video, she parodies bloggers that use make up to fake abs. But no matter how successful she may be, it seems her femininity and gender will always be a marker before her comedy. The two top comments (as well as plenty more) read as below.
Figure 1.1: Top comments on ' How to fake a six pack' (Retrieved August 22 2011)
The sexualised comments were unwarranted given that the content didn't pertain to her bikini or masturbation. While they may just be ignorant commenters, masking behind anonymity, Tran isn't respected for her talent, and the merit of her work overshadowed and interrupted by the male gaze as Mulvey suggests.
References:
- Moses, A (2010) 'Our Natalie raking in $100, 000 a year from Youtube, smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/our-natalie-raking-in-100000-a-year-from-youtube-20100820-133be.html accessed 22/08/2011
- Mulvey, L (1975) Visual and Other Pleasures, Bloomington: Indiana University Press
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