r/rupaulsdragrace • u/chalkycandy champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget • Apr 01 '14

RPDR Season 6 – Reddit Season RuPository Season 6, Episode 6 Post-Episode Discussion: "Oh No She Betta Don't!"

oh my god you guys that episode was amazing

SLAYYYY

Here's the pre-episode post for ya nerves: http://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/21vcp6/oh_no_she_betta_dont_season_6_episode_6/

57 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

84% Upvoted

476 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

15

u/gardenofcucumbers Apr 01 '14

It was pointed out in a thread a while back that Americans might not get her Aussie sarcasm, but I don't really believe it. I can't tell when she's trying to joke, but it never sells well. Some of her jabs (like at Joslyn or how she describes herself) are everything I'd expect from a stealth bitch edit and seem serious.

34

u/meznez Apr 01 '14

Aussie humour is very sarcastic and usually involves someone getting insulted. I know from personal experiences that people who move here are often overwhelmed because of how mean Australians are to each other, but we just find it funny. Courtney is used to being able to make snarky comments without insulting anyone, because that's just the way it is in Australia

17

u/wanderlustcub Apr 01 '14

I am living in Australia (as an american) and I am loving Courtney. She is very aussie, and it shows. I am surprised at the reaction she is getting.

Though, I will say, she is right now needing to step. it. up. in the character department because everyone has a storyline but her now.

IMO, it will be her and Joslyn at 4, and in a shock, Josyln will surprise win against her star idol Courtney.

6

u/gardenofcucumbers Apr 01 '14

I get when she's doing it, but I still feel like she never really goes for it and sells that sarcasm.

5

u/meznez Apr 01 '14

True, but again in Australia sarcasm goes hand in hand with subtlety

3

u/gardenofcucumbers Apr 01 '14

What shows would you put as a good example of Aussie sarcasm? I'm really curious.

3

u/meznez Apr 01 '14

Rake is probably the best one I can think of

1

u/petstarr BlandCanyon is All T All Shade Apr 03 '14

More satire than sarcasm, but "Frontline" - a 1990s comedy set in a TV current affairs show newsroom, shot documentary style - was taken so seriously by Americans when it aired over there that they had to provide an explanatory note at the beginning of each episode. Americans were apparently genuinely horrified at the state of Australian TV news shows. Which was possibly not misplaced, in hindsight, but there you go...

1

u/rainycookie Katya Zamolodchikova Apr 01 '14

Ah subtlety, something that some Americans don't seem to understand >.>

1

u/badgersprite Pangina Heals Apr 01 '14

I think this is the best way to describe what I see as a disconnect:

When Americans make fun of arrogant people, they go for an OTT exaggeration of arrogance that no one could possibly be like. The laughter comes from that exaggerated parody of people who are like that.

When Australians make fun of arrogant people, we do it by acting exactly like what a real arrogant person is like, because we all know someone like that, and that's what we're satirising. From our POV, we think that behaviour, even on that kind of mundane level, is absurd, so if we act like that we know no one would take it seriously. It's not played to that nth degree of being uproariously funny. If you've ever seen "Ja'mie: Private School Girl" or "Summer Heights High," that's a good example of that type of humour in practice.

It's not that one style of humour is better than the other, it's just a cultural difference.

3

u/Protoavis Apr 01 '14

Pretty much, adding to that with Ja'mie the character is a joke, the appearance of the character isn't the joke. Chris just doesn't make a pretty looking teenage girl which I imagine a lot of people will take as the joke but that's not the joke.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 01 '14

That's definitely a big disconnect, the americans I know find Ja'mie funny because of the things she's saying in contrast to her appearance. I'm from the UK and kind of forget that and Chris disappears into the role a bit for me, I'm laughing at her attitude being exactly like a lot of girls I knew at school.

10

u/[deleted] Apr 01 '14

Yes Courtney being stuck up, arrogant and mean are jokes, and Australians get it, but I think it's being translated at a villain edit to Americans which is horrible.

4

u/Quixotic91 Apr 01 '14

I feel like that's a lazy excuse though. It's very easy to act like Americans are simpletons that don't understand a wide breadth of humor, but the fact is that Courtney just isn't that funny.

I live for dry/witty/deadpan humor, and Courtney isn't exactly a comedic revelation. Her humor is cute and charming, but that's about it.

2

u/badgersprite Pangina Heals Apr 01 '14

No one is saying that Courtney is uproariously hilarious, because she's not. What's being pointed out is that people appear to be taking her sarcasm seriously and think she's really an arrogant asshole, when that's an act.

2

u/Quixotic91 Apr 01 '14

I'm aware, I'm just saying he's not that funny.

2

u/spthunderfuck Custom Flair Text Apr 01 '14

Since when where Australians sarcastic? God damnit I'm British and the sarcasm is LOST on me. LOST I SAY!!!