I went to the crafting session even though I don't craft because I adore Amy Sedaris. She was hilarious at the session, though I was uncomfortable with the "Ching Chong" joke that she made there (and that she repeats in the video above).

Ching-Chong is considered derogatory -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Chong
Among other things: that's what got Rosie O'D into trouble.

I am curious to know what other Bloghers think of it, particularly those of color, and particularly those who are Asian or Pacific Islander.

I love Amy Sedaris. As for the ching-chong comment -- and this goes for Rosie, too -- I think comedians don't always remember to "turn it off," so to speak. What works on stage, and in the context of "I paid to see this, I expect to see this.." crosses the line off. Think of Sarah Silverman's entire routine, which is about being really offensive, and poking fun at those things we find really offensive. She got in trouble, too, for using the word "chink" during an interview. I got it, but the interview shouldn't have been part of her act.

I've seen Amy on Letterman before and she's really an original - very funny! :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Ce7mPcwLQ&eurl=

-Bob
bobafifi.com
usedviolins.com
fluteplayer.net

Thanks for the replies. After posting my first comment last night, I did a quick Google search this morning that shows that she has been criticized for the Ching Chong bit before, not only in book signings but also in her movie. See the comments in this discussion at Racialicious: www.racialicious.com/2006/12/07/rosie-odonnell-mocks-asians-with-ching-c...

She also admits to signing books with the term alongside a caricature of a buck-toothed Asian man:
http://blogs.outzonetv.com/andy/2006/11/10_questions_with_amy_sedaris.ph...

This made at least two bloggers angry. See the comments here from "little. yellow. different": www.littleyellowdifferent.com/mister-wong-the-offensive-social-bookmarki...

Is this insensitivity, post-Modern irony, a satire on racism, all of the above, or none of the above?

I agree with you, Celeste. It wasn't really the right time or place for it. I thought the "retard" and "art for deaf people" jokes were lame as well. She seems so creative...and there's so many other things to be funny about.

It really let me down. I was a huge fan of hers for yonks. It reminded me of when I was a kid and I'd go bopping up to my favorite musician or author, only to be crushed by the fact they were jerks.

Oh well, there's lots of other talented people out there.

I quite enjoy her, although I'm torn about the comments. On one hand, I do believe that we tend to overemphasize things like her "ching chong" comment. Western media in general tends to enjoy pouncing on one ill-advised phrase or sentence a person says, while losing sight of an overall message or persona. She's very funny and talented, and I would hate to have people write her off entirely because she uses one specific offensive phrase.

On the other hand, though, wow. I can definitely see how that would be offensive to people. You'd think that someone of her media status would be smarter than that and know how offensive phrases like that can be, and exactly how much uproar and negative publicity it can cause. And the thing is, jokes like that just.... aren't funny.

Overall, I'll probably say she's still funny... and maybe not as smart or racially/media savvy as I thought she was.

ThreeSeven... attention deficits at work.

Although her comments sometimes make me cringe. I never forget that I live in America, where we have freedom of speech. I don't have to like what she says. I don'e have to agree with what she says. She still has the right to say it. Of course I also have the right to listen to something else. Usually I choose my cd player.

I'm still thinking about it because she was referring to a blogger in this video who is amazing and beautiful and did a fantastic job at the blogher conference. She was being random in the session, but specific in this video. I have loved Amy for years, and I wrote about how happy I was to meet her at the conference, but this video really turns me off.

That being said, I often say things that offend people without meaning to. So I shouldn't throw my rock in my glass house.

You have no idea how optimistic it is to see non-Asians who understand why these comments are racist and unfunny. I think Sedaris is quite talented and she probably thinks she’s using these comments ironically, but just calling people racist slurs and handing out nasty racist pictures with her signature is not a full joke; it’s the attitude of a joke with no intelligence or wit.

It looks like Sedaris uses racial slurs because she’s too uncreative to come up with a real joke. If you’re going to be offensive you need some intelligent, satirical point to offset the ugliness. I actually like her and am dismayed to see someone as talented as her set the bar so low.

If you feel uncomfortable, say something. White comedians only change their racist behavior if it offends other white people. Sad, but true.

>>> I am curious to know what other Bloghers think of it, particularly those of color, and particularly those who are Asian or Pacific Islander.

This Asian wants to slit her throat (just kidding…although a part of me wants to punch her in the face.).

as well as when she referred to the native woman on the butter packaging as the "squaw" (more than once).

It just made me cringe.

I think humour that shocks can be very funny. This, however, was just plain offensive.

I think the difference for me is the funny kind of humour suggests "aren't people ridiculous?" (which is kind of exclusive) whereas the kind of jokes Sedaris was making seem to elicit contempt for the groups about whom she was being pejorative.

My two cents.

laurie
www.notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com

After the Ching Chong comment...I refuse to hear anymore. It makes me sick to my stomach that I hear this from another adult.