Stereotypes

I honestly don’t have to deal with being stereotyped very often. Maybe it’s because I’m not a member of a noticeable ethnic group like blacks or Asians. Or maybe I just don’t notice it because I don’t really mind stereotypes, as long as they aren’t used maliciously. I feel like a lot of people take them way too seriously, most stereotypes can be really funny if you look at them with a lighter attitude.

Mel Brooks is considered to be one of the funniest writers/directors of all time and his movies are full of stereotypes and racist comments, but nobody seems to be offended by them. This is most likely due to the fact that he doesn’t single in on and attack a specific group or community. His movies poke fun at almost every community imaginable including blacks, whites, Jews, Christians, Asians, and many more. In fact, these movies exaggerate the stereotypes to such a degree that they actually satirize the act of stereotyping.

For example, the film “Blazing Saddles” takes place in an old western town called Rock Ridge. The citizens of this town are incredibly racist and frequently make offensive comments toward their African-American sheriff. While Brooks is using these comments to poke fun at the African-American community, their primary function is to illustrate how silly it is to stereotype ethnic groups and communities.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that stereotyping can be helpful to society as long as it is done in good fun and without harmful intents. Harmless stereotyping jokes can desensitize people to racism and prejudice and can reduce violent or malicious retaliation. If people just don’t take them personally and try to see the humor in them, stereotypes can change their image from being hateful insults to being really funny jokes. And this world could use some more humor.