Letters to the Editor

This letter is associated with the following article:
Why do black comedians like Tyler Perry, Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence don plus-size pantyhose and parade around as their feisty grandmas?
  • "Men in Dresses" has been funny for 5,000 years.

    Broad humor, cross-dressing, outrageously ridiculous costumes and makeup, exaggerated speech and movement, and stereotyped characterization have been part of every theatrical tradition around the world. There was Commedia dell'Arte for example. And we have Roman mosaics showing these satirical (from satyr) performances. There's Chinese Opera and Thai dance and Native American dance and all these traditions are ancient.

    Why can't women or black people or white people or men or anybody at all not be made fun of? You start taking away the basic theatrical tools that have stood the human race well for 5,000 years and you're going to take away comedy and comedy's important role at attacking cruel and snotty and stupid people. If you don't like Madea, fine. But don't attack the tools for comedy.