The playwrights in the first four plays have appropriated stereotypes created by others for themselves and then used humor to diminish the sting of the stereotypes. So, what is the role of people who are not in or of a particular culture or ethnicity when it comes to humor? When is it “ok” to laugh?
Humor portrayed in different means and dealing with cultures, race, or ethnicities can be a touchy subject when dealing with stereotypes. I would have to say it depends on the environment that the humor is being exhibited in to determine what is socially acceptable and when it is best to laugh or not to laugh at stereotypic jokes. Depending upon the individual, each person is going to respond differently to jokes made concerning these group of human beings. What most important is that the person creating the joke recognizes his or her audience and that they will not be offended. If the person doing the jokes does not know the audience or individual, it is best to keep quiet. On the other hand if you are on the receiving end of the punt and are with a mixed group of peers, I would respond in a modest way to not elevate and reactions being exhibited or not laugh at all. The people you know best are your friends and they are the ones that would understand your humor, but don’t go up to someone you don’t know and try to do a stereotype icebreaker, because it might set you off on the wrong foot. Good stereotypic humor can be seen in many ways indicating that great thought was put into the plays that were written by their playwrights.
The Day of Abscense ward portrayed white and black stereotypes to exhibit the relationship that we have together in a different way than people would normally see it. When playwrights can exaggerate or take something out of context, it gives it an entire different way at looking at something, and gives you reason to laugh at it. Think of an example of yourself that you may have done something dumb and other people laughed, but then you go back and look at it later and laugh along with people too. Sometimes it just takes time to realize how similar or different people are.
In Los Vendidos, the actors portrayed a few different stereotypes that could be related to. Whether it be the no good for nothing Mexican worker, or the city slacker gang busting Mexican, they all were able to exaggerate the “everyday” stereotype of the people into something that could be made into a quick skit that people wanted to see. Whether this is right or wrong depends on the viewer, but as long as you look at it in a way that everyone has the ability to do whatever they want with their lives (do something outside of their stereotype) and be happy with themselves, then they shouldn’t let stereotypes bother them.
In the satire Winnetou’s Snake Oil Show from Wigwam City, the playwright designed it to portray the stereotypes of Indians and how when all put together, that they still would not make a true Indian out of a white man. They wanted all people, both white, Indian, latino, Mexican and more to laugh at the nonsense that people have fallen into by believing in this snake oil. Like in the example when Ethel said she had hemorrhoids and then the princess gave her snake oil. Just like that it was cured. The people in the audience new otherwise, and the actors were able to build on it throughout the play to prove that Indians were more than what the common man though of them with their stereotypes.
In the last of the four satires, Yankee Dawg You Die exhibits what the average actor has to do on a daily or yearly routine, but again exaggerates it to the point that is funny. With scenes that have vulgar language, and stereotypes towards other races, it emphasizes what the actors are up for competing against. Without clear notation of why they get the role they do, or why they might not get a role, it is a constant guess game of how to improve themselves against their counter parts. The use of humor and exaggeration again are utilized, and I believe the audience viewer has to look past the fact that they themselves could fit into one of the stereotypes portrayed.
Stereotypes and humor are portrayed in several plays, satires, and musicals, and I believe that as long as the viewer does not take it as a self addressed comment if they fit the stereotype, then they should be alright. Everyone has the ability to change how they are viewed and just because someone might judge you, does not mean that you can’t prove them wrong later.
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