Good once-again -almost-midnight solar system!
Today my copy of Will Grayson, Will Grayson came in the mail which was VERY EXCITING. Unfortunately I have not read very much of it because I am kind of transfixed by a video game at the present moment but I assure you, I will not be kept away for long. I stayed up very late last night and finished reading An Abundance of Katherines, and it was very good indeed.
In the ten or so pages I read before my brain was invaded by alien forces, I noticed something similar about Colin's best friend and Will#1's best friend - they are both described as being overweight to a point where it is almost the focal point of their character. There also seems to be a similarity (now I can't really judge this seeing as I'm not very far into WGWG) but the main purpose for them both seems to be 1) being the character's only "real" frieend, and 2) providing humor.
I have noticed in many video games, many movies, many books that overweight people are often portrayed as either sources of great humour, over affectionate aunts, or as greedy, evil people. Every group has its archetypes - guys who play sports in school are jerks, pretty girls don't care about anyone but themselves, etc. I am not critiquing either story, I'm just pointing out that I noticed a similarity and I find the stereotype interesting.
Where did the stereotype come from, I wonder? Is it because they can get stuck inside small spaces, and it's good for a cheap laugh? Is it because they can be identified immediately and thus the jokes can be made right off the bat? I would think that anyone could be just as easy to make fun of, if that was the motivation.
I have not read many stories or seen many movies (once again, etc) where the main character was overweight, certainly not one in some sort of a heroic setting. I have seen some, yes, and I am sure there are many out there which I have not been exposed to. Lots of people get upset when someone inserts a gay character into their story just to prance around and give everyone a cheap laugh but I have never heard anyone object to an overweight character being used in the same manner.
I'm not saying that overweight people (a group which, arguably, I may be included in) are some downtrodden group that needs us to rally in their support, and I'm not saying that they are on par with homosexuals or transsexuals as far as discrimination is concerned. But anyone who went to school at any point in their life has likely heard people being called fat and I'm just curious how they developed this universal status as "funny people."
I don't know if any of what I'm saying is really going anywhere. I guess I just think that people should think a bit more about the things they find funny. I have laughed at things I probably should not have laughed at, and I doubt that I never will again. People don't like to think about the things that make them laugh, because that takes the humour out of it. And people certainly don't need anything else to be sad about in this world. But when you're laughing at someone's expense... I don't think it matters whether you have a gay/overweight/black/christian/whatever friend, and you love them to pieces. What needs to be considered is... are you laughing at because the stereotype is so ridiculous? Or are you laughing because it's "so true"? Are you laughing because it sounds like something a person you don't like would do, or because it sounds like something no one would ever do?
Maybe I'm the only one who won't find this completely ridiculous and pointless, but... well, those are my thoughts for tonight.
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