JPVietnam

Jenna Pallansch Question 2 2100H

The humor in the play __The Vietnamization of New Jersey__ is distinctly farcical in nature. One definition of this genre describes farce as “a light dramatic work in which highly improbable plot situations, exaggerated characters, and often slapstick elements are used for humorous effect.” __The Vietnamization of New Jersey__ tackles emotionally heavy as well as sensitive issues in a light and offhand manner. The plot is highly improbable, from “Liat” taping her eyes to fake Vietnamese heritage to Uncle Larry setting bear traps around for David. The characters are also exaggerated and stereotypical. For example, Et's character is an exaggerated version of an average, derelict teen. He is disrespectful to his parents, obsessed with sex and violence, and extremely messy. However, all of these factors have been taken to an improbable level; Et is so messy he eats cereal from his pants and has sex with Liat in front of various family members. Likewise, Ozzie Ann's character is the stereotypical middle-class mother. She tries to correct her children's bad habits, disapproves of her son's surprise marriage, and is offended by crude language. This has been humorously escalated to the point where she uses racist slurs against her son's wife and insists upon anatomically correct language as opposed to curse words. The two-dimensional qualities of these characters are necessary to create the humorous and satirical arc of the play. The slapstick elements are found throughout the work, from Hazel's use of a bell to “keep score” to the sexual innuendo throughout the play.

 Another definition of farce is “a kind of comedy that inspires hilarity mixed with panic and cruelty in its audience through an increasingly rapid and improbable series of ludicrous confusions, physical disasters, and sexual innuendos among its stock characters.” The play fits these qualifications as well. Uncle Larry's character is the chief source of cruelty and panic throughout the work. While still humorous, scenes such as David arming Liat with a machine gun and the loss of the house are funny because of their basis in panic. Ludicrous confusions are found throughout the work, such as David's belief he has married a Vietnamese woman when in reality he has married an Irish, go-go dancer. David's loss of his sight in the war and Harry's death are both examples of physical disasters, and sexual innuendos are found throughout the play, mainly through Et and Uncle Larry's characters. All of the characters are stock characters; they are stereotypical and their main function is a satirical one.

]When reading the play, I am reminded of modern examples of farce such as in the animated television series // South Park. //  The show relies on the same use of stock characters, impossible situations, and crude humor to create the hilarity of the show. Episodes often have a satirical arc as well, and the plots are ludicrous and based on “hilarity mixed with panic and cruelty.” The show also uses vulgar and physical comedy, along with sexual innuendo, similarly to the play. Et's character, particularly in moments like when he slapped his mother back, reminded me of Cartman's character. Both are uncontrollable children that have been exaggerated to ludicrous levels of troubling behavior.