In the past few years, it’s becoming increasingly easy for comedians to add their own videos and clips to their websites; performers can, with a minimum of effort, upload video content directly to YouTube to post on their page. A fascinating additional feature is the ability for casual viewers to post comments and critiques directly onto the page of the featured YouTube clip. Now, the sort of comments and opinions that few audience members would have had the moxie to shout at the stage, or share with the performer after their set or screening, can be posted for the world to see with a few keystrokes.

I was particularly struck by the vehemence and ire in comments posted for Rebecca Addelman’s comedy short, “Help Darfur” (here). In the video, a naive young woman appears on camera, explaining she wants to do her part to help the war and famine-stricken area, and proceeds to give the camera (and its off-screen and silently persuasive operator) a Mardi Gras special “..for the people of Darfur…I hope this can help in some small way”.

It’s true that some people, trolling the internet for references to the humanitarian crisis, might not have expected to find a comedy short in which Darfur is referenced. These web surfers might not have been prepared to use critical thought in examining a satirical piece. This definitely seems to be the case here. Some posters snarl “you should be ashamed..to be human”, and “How do you sleep at night?”. Some actively wish “genocide” on Ms. Addelman for, in their view, making light of a deadly serious issue.

What these knee jerk reactions overlook is that, in her own way, Ms. Addelman’s piece might be just as effective in highlighting the plight of Darfur as an Amnesty International infomercial. The Western world has become inured to blatant appeals for their attention to be focused on trouble spots around the world. However, when an issue like Darfur is referenced in a comedy piece, the viewer may take a moment to consider that, if this cause has seeped into our collective consciousness to the point that it’s a subject for a comic’s social commentary, than perhaps they themselves should be thinking about it more actively. In this particular short, this point is strongly emphasized by the “butt” of the joke. If a foolish girl, who can be convinced to flash her breasts at a conniving stranger for a “humanitarian cause”, is so knowledgeable about what’s happening half way around the world, what does that say about the viewer if they aren’t fully informed about the issue?

In the comments on “Help Darfur”, fellow comedian Michael Balazo skewers the vitriolic posters by sarcastically posting “Rebecca is an entertainer who has yet to stop ANY major world conflicts or humanitarian crises with her MySpace videos”. While it’s a funny rebuttal, I disagree with him. A performer willing to risk offending people by incorporating a sensitive political issue into her comedy may do more to educate people than some earnest but narrow-minded weekend Red Cross volunteer. Especially when the subversive message is concealed in a well thought-out and (most importantly) damn funny joke.

Rebecca Addelman will be performing biting satire, likely mixed with a dollop of crude sexual innuendo, this Sunday Febuary 25th @ The Rivoli, with co-host Nick Flanagan, at “The Hour of Power” comedy and music showcase. She also hosts a monthly comedy and music night entitled “Backasswards” @ Grossman’s Tavern; the next edition of which will be March 14th.

Steve Fisher www.myspace.com/gracingthestage

Click Here to view information about Rebecca’s show with Nick on the 25th