get these nets
Veteran
full documentary
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Timely, insightful, and downright funny, Why We Laugh is a sweeping account of the evolution of black comedy in America. Inspired by comedian Darryl Littleton's book, producer & writer Quincy Newell and director Robert Townsend have crafted a no-holds-barred documentary that is both an insider's take and a critical examination of the cultural influence of black comedy. This hilarious and spectacularly archived film is enriched by including interviews with prominent scholars, politicians, cultural critics, and a host of notable comics, including Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Steve Harvey, and Katt Williams. Why We Laugh tracks the way black comedy has evolved from Stepin Fetchit and minstrels in blackface to the politically tinged humor of dikk Gregory, and from the television success of Good Times and The Jeffersons to the big-screen accomplishments of stars like Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg. The film also turns a perceptive eye on the controversial career decision of Dave Chappelle and the implications of corporate efforts to capitalize on the massive successes of Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam and Spike Lee's The Original Kings of Comedy. A major historical contribution to American culture—and a hoot to watch—Why We Laugh is a tribute to the way individuals can change history, as well as a cautionary tale about how tenuous that change can be.
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Timely, insightful, and downright funny, Why We Laugh is a sweeping account of the evolution of black comedy in America. Inspired by comedian Darryl Littleton's book, producer & writer Quincy Newell and director Robert Townsend have crafted a no-holds-barred documentary that is both an insider's take and a critical examination of the cultural influence of black comedy. This hilarious and spectacularly archived film is enriched by including interviews with prominent scholars, politicians, cultural critics, and a host of notable comics, including Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Steve Harvey, and Katt Williams. Why We Laugh tracks the way black comedy has evolved from Stepin Fetchit and minstrels in blackface to the politically tinged humor of dikk Gregory, and from the television success of Good Times and The Jeffersons to the big-screen accomplishments of stars like Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg. The film also turns a perceptive eye on the controversial career decision of Dave Chappelle and the implications of corporate efforts to capitalize on the massive successes of Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam and Spike Lee's The Original Kings of Comedy. A major historical contribution to American culture—and a hoot to watch—Why We Laugh is a tribute to the way individuals can change history, as well as a cautionary tale about how tenuous that change can be.
