A comedy writer (presumably daughter of Shelby Steele) at Salon has an article at Salon about her inherited opposition to affirmative action being reaffirmed by her failure to get a Hollywood gig based on her (not physically apparent) background rather than talent. Although the various different cultures combined in her family have the potential for comedic situations, I was struck by the lack of humor in her article. How do you expect to get a comedy job unless you constantly signal comedic abilities in all your signed output?
Since she mentions her appearance, a google image search led me to this pic.
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August 7, 2011 at 9:51 pm
She look pretty cute, and fun if not funny.
August 7, 2011 at 10:58 pm
I think the lack of humor in the article is about par for a “comedy writer” writing for a publication like Salon/HuffingtonPost/Slate etc.
For me, the chief irony is that she considers herself a unique voice, although she’s a hack and rather overrepresented archetype in the US at this point.
August 9, 2011 at 6:28 pm
I don’t read much HP, but Slate is often funny. I suppose Salon does aim for a more serious tone.
August 10, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Slate is often funny? Your low standards disappoint me. But I’ve noticed a trend in that you’re much funnier than some of the media you admire (the Synedoche satirical review, and now this).
August 12, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Not really laugh out loud hilarious or anything, but there’s definitely a sense of humor in some features that I haven’t seen on Salon (though admittedly I don’t read the latter as much).
I remember reading about H. P. Lovecraft’s favorite horror writers and illustrators. I suppose he wasn’t really all that scary himself, but it was still notable to me how non-scary most of them seemed (particularly considering how many adjectives Lovecraft ladled on them).
And on a minor note, that Something Awful parody preceded Synecdoche and was more a generic parody of Kaufman.
August 13, 2011 at 4:35 am
Well if it preceded Synedoche that’s either rather brilliant or Kauffman is predictable (I think Synedoche is his only film I’ve seen).
August 15, 2011 at 6:58 pm
I was wrong, it was after the movie. That would lower one’s estimation.
I’ve seen Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as well.
August 17, 2011 at 12:00 am
i’ve seen eternal too. thought it was overhyped, but influenced stuff i like, like Fringe.
August 21, 2011 at 10:48 am
I’ve heard of “Fringe” but never actually watched it.