Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy

Timely, insightful, and downright funny, Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy is a sweeping account of the evolution of black comedy in America. Inspired by comedian Darryl Littleton’s book, directors Robert Townsend and Quincy Newell have crafted a no-holds-barred documentary that is both an insider’s take and a critical examination of the cultural influence of black comedy.Townsend and Newell enrich this hilarious and spectacularly archived film by including interviews with prominent scholars, politicians, cultural critics, and a host of notable comics, including Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Keenan Ivory Wayans, and Eddie Griffin. Why We Laugh tracks the way black comedy has evolved from Stepin Fetchit and minstrels in blackface to the politically tinged humor of Dick Gregory, and from the television success of Good Times and The Jeffersons to the big-screen accomplishments of stars like Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg. Townsend and Newell turn a perceptive eye on the controversial career of Dave Chapelle and the implications of corporate efforts to capitalize on the massive successes of Russell Simmons’s Def Comedy Jam and Spike Lee’s The Original Kings of Comedy.A major historical contribution to American culture—and a hoot to watch—Why We Laugh is a tribute to the way individuals can change history, as well as a cautionary tale about how tenuous that change can be.
CAST

Robert Townsend - Director Robert Townsend is a filmmaker, actor, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has been at the forefront of African American cinema for the last 30 years. He began his career as an actor in such films as Car Wash, Streets of Fire, and A Soldier's Story. His directorial debut was the independently produced comedy Hollywood Shuffle, which was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. Townsend has worked extensively in television, creating several noteworthy portraits of black singers. In 2002 he received a Career Achievement Award from the American Black Film Festival.

Screenings:

Sat. Jan 17 5:30 p.m. - WHYLA17PE Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Sun. Jan 18 9:30 p.m. - WHYLA18GN Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, SLC
Mon. Jan 19 11:30 p.m. - WHYLA19PL Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Thu. Jan 22 11:30 a.m. - WHYLA223D Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City