When I was a younger guy doing comedy, it was a big struggle. Promoters canceled me out of clubs left and right when I called somebody a dummy or a yo-yo. Then they realized I was different.
Don RicklesRead
Being an Asian person on SNL,' when people are like, 'Why did it take so long?' It's sort of a question that doesn't fully understand the idea that there is no developmental experiential process for a queer Asian person to get into comedy in a way that feels inevitable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the unique challenges faced by queer Asian individuals in the comedy industry.
Bowen Yang emphasizes that the journey for a queer Asian person in comedy is not straightforward or guaranteed, and suggests that societal understanding often overlooks the complexities of identity and the unique barriers encountered in pursuing a career in this field. The question about the delay in representation indicates a lack of awareness regarding the structural obstacles that affect marginalized groups in the entertainment industry.
Themes
ComedyIdentityRepresentationQueerAsianChallenges
In practice
Example use cases
In a panel discussion about diversity in media.
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