A laugh, a joke, a sentiment wasted
Morning! There you are. Just when I’d told you I would be blogging late today and even then rather half-arsedly, it turns out I’m writing this in a park before ten a.m., and with my WHOLE arse. I love to surprise you.
A lady called Lydia posted a comment the other day which began like this:
I have a question for you, which kind of relates to Mock The Week because something Jack Whitehall said last night got me thinking about it again.
I’m basically just wondering what your opinion is on comedians making jokes to do with people with special needs.
Lydia, I wrote a blog on this subject a couple of months ago, when Frankie got into (a tiny bit of) trouble for taking the piss out of a Down’s Sydrome sufferer. (It was called Frankie, My Dear, I Don’t Give A Damn, I think. Easy one to remember as there are only so many times you can make a ‘Frankie’ pun like that.) It was my most-read blog ever, largely because of people googling Frankie Boyle – I’m thinking of calling a future entry Michael McIntyre Kevin Bridges Russell Howard Sex Romp to hoover up those search engine surfers. I basically said that, even though comedians in general are thought to have a licence to say whatever they want, quite a lot of the time they probably shouldn’t. Then I backtracked a bit from this already pretty vague point of view and ended the blog mumbling things like ‘anyway, enough from me’. So it ended much like any other conversation I might hold.
Now the subject’s been raised again, and it ties in a little bit with the international football tournament I keep being at pains not to mention. The prospect of England playing Germany has got the tabloids stirring up what you might call ‘mild xenophobia’, e.g. referring to Germans as ‘Jerries’, mentioning Hitler, and so on. Few of us alive today remember either World War, and in a way jokes of this kind aren’t really even about the wars any more; for the casual football fans they’re aimed at, they tap into more recent tradition of England-Germany games (most notoriously, the one in 1996, when we lost on penalties after The Sun had printed pictures of our players dressed up in WW2 uniforms) and general anglo-German ‘banter’. Not many of the people reading, even some of the meatheads who read The Sun, would genuinely have a problem meeting, and speaking to, a German. Hardly anyone in this country believes ‘The Germans’ are evil. But these pantomime antics keep coming out when we meet them at football. So, is it all harmless fun, or should we be a bit more careful than to keep dragging up this history?
I think the answer is somewhere in between. There’s nothing wrong with a healthy rivalry in football or in life, and if you’ve had the privilege of watching any sport with like-minded fans of the opposing side, you’ll know that sport can be one of the greatest ways of bringing different groups together. There’s been a lot of talk in this World Cup about how the whole of Africa is united behind the different African teams, for example, and although some of it is sentimental bollocks, some of it IS true. Football has allowed me to bond with people from many many places I’d not have known much about otherwise. If there are shared jokes between these people, that all adds to the fun. For example if the Germans were currently making jokes about how they bombed Coventry and how many homes burned down in the Blitz, and we found those jokes funny, then I guess that’s sort of OK. The thing is it tends to be mostly us making jokes about the War, because ’we’ won it.
I think in general a little more sensitivity is needed from comedians/people who pass for comedians in the newspaper/anyone who other people listen to. Comedy has blossomed over a golden age when comedians have been given free rein to say anything about anyone. This was a necessary counter-attack against the pointless strictures of most of the 20th century, the stiff-upper-lip British tradition, and it’s allowed comedy to become one of the more interesting artforms of the past ten or twenty years. I never support censorship and I do think comedy’s freedom of speech is worth defending. But ANYONE’s freedom of speech is only valid up the point it’s used to wound other people. Comedians aren’t exempt from that, just because they might do the wounding more wittily than others, wear a nice suit as they’re doing it (though not in my case), and say ‘hey, chill out, I’m just kidding’ afterwards. Comedy is like a naughty younger brother who everyone loves and indulges. Its whole appeal comes from that naughtiness. But at some point the mischievous oik has to go to university and get a job and take responsibility as a citizen. If comedy wants to keep being important, it has to get over itself as a ‘cool, dangerous, edgy’ art that doesn’t give a fuck, and start being something more valuable – a cool, dangerous, edgy art that DOES give a fuck.
So, no, to be honest I don’t think it is OK to make jokes about people with – for example – learning difficulties, (a) because they are not really in a position to defend themselves, (b) because you’re likely to reinforce ignorance and prejudice by doing that, and even the most vicious comedy should be about challenging assumptions, not buffeting them.
A caveat to all this, though: you mentioned Jack Whitehall talking about ‘retards’. I wouldn’t have done this myself, but I’m well aware I might easily use a similar word without pondering what it would mean to some people (and indeed, nothing I’ve said here is meant to exempt me, I’ve said some terrible things in the past I’m sure). I’m certain Jack would be horrified if he thought anyone with special needs would be upset by his using that word. It’s easy to do in the heat of the battle that is Mock The Week, and in the pressure of being on stage generally. So, yes – where individual words and phrases are concerned, we should cut comedians some slack. In return, comedians should cut themselves a bit LESS slack.
Those are my opinions. Or rather, rather incoherently arranged versions of my opinions. If this were an essay, I wouldn’t hand this in now; I’d go back and try and make it progress more smoothly from one point to the next. But who would read ten years of my essays?
Posted by LisaD on June 29, 2010
Not for nothing, but are we all talking about the moment in Mock the Week in which Jack Whitehall made a joke about the year he spent volunteering at a school for children with special needs playing games with the kids which “genuinely does make you feel really good inside, cause you always win.” Is that the joke that people are getting in a twist over? The joke in which he both uses the correct phrase to describe the kids and mentions that he spent A YEAR OF HIS LIFE looking after these kids? Is that the joke we mean? Just checking.
I’m not the biggest fan of Jack Whitehall but I think (just in case this ends up being another post with a google surfer boom) somewhere in all this there should be some mention of both the actual joke content and the context. The recipients of Whitehall’s mockery were not at any point the kids he worked with. He was making fun of the sort of rich kids who treat helping the poor like their vacation resort. He even hints at the fact that some might put him in this shallow category as well. The self mockery is why the joke is funny. He is casting himself as the sort of shallow ass who would be pleased to beat these kids at tennis. Can we also allow for the fact that he actually might not be that guy and this is one of those cases when it is just a joke?
People have mentioned that Mock the Week isn’t as funny as it has been in the past. I’ve heard the same complaint about HIGNFY and others. I’m not surprised. What would surprise me is if ANY show managed to be funny at all with the level of scrutiny everyone, guests and hosts alike, is under from the BBC terrified of the next “Sachsgate”, the viewers and of course the press who are dying for another Sachsgate. I agree that everyone should grow up sometime–though at 22 I question just how grownup Whitehall needs to be just yet–but I’m not convinced in this case that it’s the comedian who is being immature.
Posted by Rick Procter on June 29, 2010
Hmm, the word I meant was in fact not “fickle” but “facetious” – my apologies.
Posted by Rick Procter on June 29, 2010
Must just say – I do know the musical reference in the title of this blog. It’s Beck, in the song Dead Melodies from his Mutations album. Sorry to be so fickle after such a blog post on a subject this important, but I guess I geeky glory-hunting moments occasionally.
Do completely agree with the blog post though, hundred percent. It would be nice if comics (and people generally) whilst having freedom to say what they like were nevertheless never inclined to say something risqué just for the sake of it or worse still hurtful just to provoke a reaction and make waves.
Posted by Shell on June 29, 2010
I agree with your points on the German stuff in the press because of the match. It is just /so/ tabloid and ‘old’.
I especially liked this bit of your blog:
“If comedy wants to keep being important, it has to get over itself as a ‘cool, dangerous, edgy’ art that doesn’t give a fuck, and start being something more valuable – a cool, dangerous, edgy art that DOES give a fuck.”
Not least because as I read the first bit I was bristling a bit with “No! It mustn’t get over itself being all those things!” …followed by “Oh! Yes then “does give a fuck” spot on! In other words: I ran a whole progression of: indignation disbelief, worry, understanding, relief and agreement. Good value for just one sentence of yours!
The rest is an area that interests me greatly too, in relation to social interaction and teaching as well as comedians. I can feel a blog of my own surfacing! Again your blog has made me think…a lot.
Posted by Anji on June 28, 2010
I keep reading this and have been thinking about a reply. I’ve ended up going down the route of it’s all been said and I agree.
The football yesterday I ended up not saying freely that I thought England would loose as I didn’t want to go down the route of explaining I wasn’t not supporting ‘my home team’ or whatever, just purely being realistic. Still I might just go live with the german Octopuss that seems to be able to pick the winning team – he might understand me!
Posted by Jane L on June 28, 2010
the anti germam sentiments in the tabloids these last few days, as every time we play them at football, make me cringe and I find them really shocking. We all like banter but there is a line that is crossed when, as you rightly put it, the sentiment reinforces an unacceptable prejudice which in this case is xenophobia. The same applies to taking the piss out of someone with learning difficulties. Bit then Jack probably didn’t intend to take the piss out of learning difficulties when he picked the word “retard”.. Frankie did, and needs to start giving a fuck.
Posted by banana_the_poet on June 28, 2010
I came to this post from Lydia’s blog as I am one of her regular blog readers. Thank you for a well thought out response to a complex issue.
I am of the firm opinion that good comedy does point out flaws in others – but that it should only do so when the ‘others’ are in a position of power and need deflating. Picking on people less powerful and making them feel like nothing – is bullying – plain and simple – no matter how wittily it is done.
Comedy should never be used to make vulnerable people feel diminished. Disability has lots of funny aspects and there is no reason not to find the humour in disability – I think the episode of the IT Crowd where Roy uses a disabled toilet and then panics thinking he will get in trouble for it and so pretends to be a disabled person – is a fantastic example of making comedy around that issue without it in any way leaving a bad taste in the mouth afterwards.
That episode also finds lots of fun with Gayness and while we are laughing at attitudes towards the disabled and Gay issues we are never laughing at disabled people or Gay people – it is incredibly well written.
I also think that saying the general population with ‘enough sense’ to know when something is wrong and so that gives carte blanche to the comedian to say whatever they like – is naive at best and deliberately cynical at worst. Wrong is wrong and responsibility for one’s own moral judgement can’t be handed off to others like that. There are plenty of numpties in the world who will take offensive nasty demeaning rubbish at face value and then repeat it in their own workplace or school yard to hurt people’s feelings or worse.
So I think comedy can be made about anything but it must never be made by the powerful (and those on a stage with an audience ready to be influenced) in order to ridicule the vulnerable.
In other words – I agree with you Mark.
Posted by Helen Crowther on June 28, 2010
Now that’s what I call a Blog! I’m usually really lazy when it comes to a load of text, don’t ever send me one of those birhtday cards with a long (amusing) poem on the front as I just won’t read it, I simply can’t be bothered.
However, I read every word of your Blog with interest, even the football bits interested me (you have succeeded where many have failed Mark!). I really wish I could reply in an equally whitty, intelligent or eloquent fashion.
I’m a big comedy fan, I have a good friend who is a comedy writer (Steve Edge) and Jason Manford is our shiny new Patron. I wasn’t therefore surprised to learn that it is possible to write intelligent and sock-popping-off comedy without the need to humiliate or upset minority groups. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those people sitting here waiting to be offended (we all know many people who are), but it does make me feel uncomfortable when I see comedians resorting to lazy comedy without any thought to who they may upset.
As someone who works with children with disabilities and terminal illnesses, I totally understand that it can be difficult to know which terms are acceptable, and which can make everyone’s toes curl. The language associated with this subject can be an absolute mine-field, do we say learning difficulties or learning disabilities? Is a child disabled or are they a child living with disabilities? In reality, the children wouldn’t mind which of these terms are used, it often tends to be the people working with them, the people protecting them, that get their knickers in a twist about such things.
However, we all know which terms aren’t acceptable and I don’t need to list them here. I suppose all we ask for is that when comedians are writing their material they put a little thought into what they’re writing, a little effort to ensure they aren’t perpetuating lazy stereotypes. That applies to disability, race, sex and regionality.
Thanks for your Blog Mark, you’re a breath of fresh air.
H x
Posted by (Magnificent) Josh on June 27, 2010
I cannot think of anything more important to say, therefore my comment is thus:
Yes.
Posted by Chris Jones on June 27, 2010
On last weeks Mock the Week, I have to admit I didn’t especially notice the disabled joke, until I read about it here. What did strike me though was the suitability of some of the content from the South African comedian. Maybe I’m being overly sensitive, but I still cringe at white South Africans making jokes about black South Africans or black SA culture. It still cuts a little close to the bone in my opinion, and my understanding of the country (which is admittedly limited) suggests there is still a certain amount of tension – as one might expect, such as in post-Nazi Germany. I don’t know what others thoughts are?
On a related issue, that possible should be posted on a different blog post, I do think that the quality of Mock the Week has dropped significantly since it first started, and what used to be as close to a ‘much watch’ program as I had, is now a show for viewing if I have the time, or more often not in the background accompanied with something else. I can’t quite put my finger on why I think this, but the nearest I can get currently is that trying to shock people and push the limits has taken a more prominent part of the show, and with that the quality of comedians has dropped (and I’m not just saying that in reference to previous blog posts). I have to admit, I never though that you’re (Mark’s – what tense should I be writing in?) contributions were poor, and I really enjoyed appearances – hence why I started subscribing to this blog when I stumbled across it, as one does.
Following that to an extent, and possibly a consequence of what I said above, is that I can’t remember the last new comedian who I saw on the show and who made me want to see them again. Possibly ‘shock comedy’ is not my thing – and if that’s the case fine, but it seems a shame to me that what use to be a good source of finding new comedians seems to be marginalising itself.
Hmmmm, that was longer than I was intending it to be – Sorry!
Posted by Helen on June 27, 2010
It is a difficult one, indeed. Hence the length. Sorry.
I think it’s the intent of the joke that’s the important thing. If someone is intending to point and laugh at people, with the punchline of the joke purely being that someone is disabled then that is not alright. But if the joke is about attitudes toward disability, then I feel that is a totally different matter. Attitudes need to be challenged on this topic, and many comedians do it very effectively.
I also think it’s important to note that the audience can, obviously, see that a joke is a bit out of taste and just let it pass, they don’t have to act on it. There’s a difference between laughing at a joke that say, uses the word ‘retard’ and then going out an using that with hateful intent toward someone. Jimmy Carr once said in an interview that people quite often laugh at his jokes and then go ‘oooooh’ – they laugh straight away because it was funny, but then their brain kicks in and realises it was a bit off taste. So surely the main thing is that peoples brains do kick in, and that they don’t go and copy and apply that attitude to every day life. It’s not like people can ever say ‘oh he made that joke and now that means his attitude has been planted in my head and I can’t fight against it’. People can turn off their tellys and avoid comedians if they don’t like their material. I find it hard to believe a comedian has ever made a joke and that joke alone had meant their whole attitude toward disability changed. There must be other factors already cemented in the viewers personality– naivity, stupidity, harsh attitudes – whatever, the joke alone can’t have the power to completely wipe out a positive and reasonable attitude toward disability. I agree with you that comedians should be cut some slack when it’s just about using a word. The context is hugely crucial (as you yourself have comically and cleverly pointed out with your ‘frisbee in a park’ joke!) and quite often jokes are taken out of context and then the media all blows it out of proportion and it just makes thing worse by further putting a ‘taboo’ on mentioning disability. By avoiding or banning jokes on disability, that is the highest form of discrimination around and serves only to heighten the stereotype of weakness that is applied to people with a disability, it’d be as though people think people with a disability couldn’t take it as a joke. Now I didn’t want to start this comment by whipping out the ‘I’m disabled’ card so I’ll pull it out now, at the end. Now I’m only bringing it up to show how the taboo of disability can be fucking annoying. People tiptoe around the issue, they are too scared to even ask the name of your condition – instead they will just stare and ask someone else. One of my friends in year 10 used to just be not comfortable with it at all and whenever I went to hospital for an appointment and it wasn’t the best she’d ask ‘does this mean you are going in a wheelchair?’, even though that was never on the cards. Because she’d never asked me about it and so ingrained was the disabled stereotype that she immediately assumed – Helen has something wrong with her – She’ll probably have to go in a wheelchair. Also I make jokes about myself the whole time and most of my friends joke along with me, but a few people won’t. This is really irritating because they say ‘I don’t want to offend you’. How can I be offended at my own joke? They treat be differently because of the stigma around it. And that’s why I don’t think it should go all totally PC in comedy, but it is hard to find the line. Very tricky.
Posted by Sam on June 27, 2010
I’m British, but also part German, with a German last name, and I used to have a bit of a German accent.
Because of this I used to get beaten up at school on rememberance day.
I’m not saying that all people saying things to do with football etc mean it, but some people do fail to see any jokey nature to it and start to believe it. Those people are of course cunts.
Whilst it would be horrid to say people shouldn’t or can’t say these things with regards to football, what with freedom and speech and all that (which is of course an excellent thing to have) perhaps we should accept some social responsibility and not say these things, or at least tone them down.
The level of jingoism and nationalism around during the world cup, whilst not inherintly racist or xenophobic, and most people are ok with it all, it can breed an intimidating culture with it.
There’s no real conclusion or point to this, so I guess it fits in nicely with the tone of the blog (that isn’t a snide remark towards the blog there, the blog is lovely).
Posted by Rachael on June 27, 2010
In 10 years I will be able to say that the answer to that last question is “me”, hopefully.
Anyway, I’m finally caught up. May not go on holiday again for these 10 years, the back-log is alot of work. On the plus side, I did discover that Ritter Sport chocolate is readily available in the canary islands.
Posted by Meg on June 27, 2010
hehe – http://twitpic.com/20gsj1 it seems that if someone does happen to google search “Michael McIntyre Kevin Bridges Russell Howard Sex Romp”, they will be shown this blog!
Posted by Lydia on June 27, 2010
This was really interesting to read.
Thank you so much for answering me. I wish that other comedians thought the same way that you did. It gets so frustrating sometimes, watching people think they can say whatever they want like it isn’t going to matter to anybody.
Another problem I have with it is that my brother, who’s autistic really likes programs like Mock The Week and it just makes everything so difficult when people say negative things.
Thanks again. It really means a lot that you bothered to do this. x
Posted by Phill Sacre on June 27, 2010
Mark, I think you are absolutely bang on the money when you say comedy should be about challenging stereotypes – not reinforcing them!
One of the things comedy is about is pointing a lamp at our own lives and going “how ridiculous at that!” in an amusing way. Not pointing a lamp at people who we don’t like and saying, “how ridiculous are they?!”
I guess there are no hard and fast rules but that seems reasonable to me!
Posted by Kathryn on June 27, 2010
My brother and I have been watching the grand prix this afternoon and cheering on Sebastian Vettel, on the premise that it would be good if Germany won at least one sporting event today. We were then told off by our mother for supporting Germany, who proceeded to mutter something about “nazis”. We agreed this was completely ridiculous, not least because her family weren’t even involved in world war 2 and she was only born in 1958. Slightly disturbing, as you generally expect your parents to be more open-minded about such things.
So, yes. I’ve forgotten if there was any point in me leaving this comment.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on June 27, 2010
I doubt there is a comedian that prompts such affection and loyalty as Mark.
Having said that I have been so stupidly busy for the past few weeks that I haven’t been reading everyday or commenting on anything.
I haven’t disappeared. I do check and read all the ones I’ve missed but so tired I don’t have the energy to comment. It’s a good thing it isn’t me writing the blog as it would have failed long ago!
I’m still here and willing the blog and TYSIC onwards and waiting to hear if my first one has been achieved :-S
^_^
xxx
Posted by Daniel on June 27, 2010
Ironically I came across this blog by Googling the phrase “Michael McIntyre Kevin Bridges Russell Howard Sex Romp.”
I’m always a bit uncomfortable with anti-German jokes in reference to the Nazis. I enjoy the footballing rivalry but not so much the Hitler stuff. My grandparents are German Jews and came here to escape the Nazis so when people make German = Nazi generalisations I get pissed off, before realising that I’m equally guilty of making generalisations elsewhere. Which renders my entire point redundant.
But anyway, in terms of the offensive comedy thing, I think material should only be offensive if its making a point. A serious point, not just “haha that persons disabled.” As you say it should challenge our assumptions. I’m glad Richard Herring has been mentioned in that respect.
Posted by Sue on June 27, 2010
I agree with Meg – “That’s why I like you, Mark – you are very funny without being mean about other people… you are a thoroughly decent man who doesn’t resort to crude and offensive jokes to make people laugh.”
It can be sad to watch as some comedians hit the big time and start using more unsavoury material, thinking that they’ve made it so it doesn’t matter any more if they offend a few people in the process. We all know here that Mark Watson will do no such thing when (not if, WHEN) he becomes a NT – and you can’t say that about a lot of comedians. So… keep up the good work!
Posted by Someone on June 27, 2010
That ‘Are You Having A Laugh? TV And Disability’ show that Simone’s linked to was really good the other night.
Since watching, although I’m not a massive fan of Ricky Gervais, I’ve realised he’s actually done pretty good things for disability on TV – even if it is sometimes uncomfortably cringeworthy – it’s often real life and it’s quite important that that’s shown on telly, so that those stupid views and actions can be realised and changed/avoided by others. And disabled people find it funny too because they can relate to how they’re actually treated. Things have come a long way in recent years… I was going to say something else but it’s a tricky issue, and you said it all pretty well yourself!
Posted by john mcwhinnie on June 27, 2010
you cant cook
Posted by issey on June 27, 2010
non-blog-related comment :
IT’S MY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!
(any birthday messages would be gratefully received, my twitter is @wizzzle) x
Posted by Matthew on June 27, 2010
One a light note to begin: If you hadn’t done a similar pun already (for which I’ve totally stolen inspiration) a good title for this blog might have been “Mock the weak?”
The problem with defending jokes such as those from Frankie Boyle is a bit like defending Bernard Manning or Jim Davidson, ultimately the jokes are adding to a culture where one group of people are considered worth less than another. In Bernard Manning’s case it was based on race, for most of us, racism is now seen as abhorrent, however this is still not the case for discrimination based on disabilities or mental illness.
Whilst I am sure it wasn’t/isn’t his intention, jokes about people with physical disabilities only go to reinforce the stereotype that these people are worth any less than the rest of, a position which is all too common in our society today.
Posted by tina on June 27, 2010
Firstly I am a mother of a an eight girl with physical and learning disabilities and now in the group of easily offended. My daughter is in and out of hospital and quite frankly I could do with a laugh. This week I spend and hour holding down my screaming daughter while nurses tried to do some painful procedure. I watched Mock the Week for some light relief, safe in the knowledge that Frankie has left. Now the joke on the show wasn’t as bad as some I heard, however it is not a live show the editors made the decision to allow it to stay. In a week it is reported the people with learning disabilities are discriminated against by the NHS. I do not think it is wrong to make a joke about disability however when you do remember that but we live in a society where people are abused just because they are disabled and that joke for a quick laugh could be adding to the problem.
Posted by Meg on June 27, 2010
Really interesting blog, Mark. My 11 year old brother is autistic and I’ve often worried about the reception he is going to get when he starts secondary school in September. His class in primary school have grown up with him so are brilliant but I’ve seen people in years 7,8 and 9 bully the kids in the autism base, make patronising jokes and use horrible words like ‘spaz’ and ‘retard’. I hate the idea that my brother might be on the receiving end of this next year. Kids that age can be vile – especially the ones who consider themselves the ‘class clown’. But I’ve seen some adults who aren’t much better.
In the end, I suppose it all comes down to people trying to impress the people around them. There seems to be this illusion that to be funny, you have to criticize other people in a witty way. That’s why I like you, Mark – you are very funny without being mean about other people. It’s obvious from your shows, TV appearances, tweets and blogs that you are a thoroughly decent man who doesn’t resort to crude and offensive jokes to make people laugh. So double thumbs up from me!
Sorry this comment has been a bit of an essay as well. Its just this is a topic I feel quite strongly about. Once I get going, it’s hard to shut me up! So yes, excellent blog Mark!
Posted by Misha on June 27, 2010
Bloody hell that was early. I’ve only just got up.
An interesting point though, since (whilst i’m not so sure about Germany) England has a long tradition of taking the piss in order to get through things. I can’t remember off the top of my head whether it was Churchill or Wilde, but there’s a lovely quote that goes along the lines of “England could never be a facist country, because we would all laugh when we tried to do the goose step”.
Indeed Richard Herring has an entire show built around such a concept.
Its all context though, you couldn’t walk up to a german in the street and say something along those lines (unless you actually are a xenophobic arsehole) but in the context of sport it becomes “banter” so it’s ok. Same with anything else, if you called someone a retard with the intent to upset them, that’s not ok. But if it’s clearly a joke then it is. Almost all the people I know who have any kind of mental issues refer to themselves as mad, special, etc. Indeed I have a running joke with a friend and my old history teacher about the “we have issues club”.
And before this get’s too long, one last quote from said history teacher. “Basically, history is about how big your dick is and pissing up trees”.
Posted by LisaBrunders on June 27, 2010
Morning Mark. I agree, but wouldn’t have put it half as well as you did.
Posted by lex on June 27, 2010
“…cool, dangerous, edgy art that DOES give a fuck”.
I had a small jubilant air-punch at this.
Posted by Simon on June 27, 2010
Cracking read.
“With great power, comes great responsibility”
Posted by Simone on June 27, 2010
There was a pretty good programme on the BBC the other night called ‘Are You Having A Laugh? TV And Disability’ which touches on a few of the issues raised here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00swg99/b00swg3y/Are_You_Having_a_Laugh_TV_and_Disability/
Posted by Alice on June 27, 2010
Well, where’s your bibliography and footnotes? Referencing is important, to whom I could not tell you nor could my tutors, but the statement stands.