Hannah Gadsby's Nanette

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DISCUSS HOW A TEXT YOU HAVE STUDIED ADOPTS THE CONVENTIONS OF ONE OR MORE GENRES FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Introduction Today, society relies on order and predictability, but sometimes the most impactful experiences are those that shatter our preconceived expectations. Hannah Gadsby's "Nanette" (2018) is a stand up comedy that faces the issues surrounding gender, sexuality, and societal prejudice through personal stories, dismantling the expectations of laughter and its genre in favor of something more meaningful. While Nanette is advertised as a conventional stand up routine, the show uses and subverts familiar comedic elements to push forth Gadsby's message about societal expectations, specifically how it marginalizes and alienates herself …show more content…

Gadsby references prominent male figures to draw attention to systemic gender inequality and the dangers of a man drunk on power and ego. An example is when she references Pablo Picasso to underscore the exploitation and objectification by powerful men, the girl "17 when they met. Underage. The. Legally underage. Picasso was 42, married, at the height of his career," Gadsby pausing after each sentence to emphasize the absurdity that we would celebrate a man who was a sexual predator. She goes on to list "Donald Trump, Pablo Picasso, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, Roman Polanski," proving that "these men are not exceptions; they are the rule," highlighting that such abuse of power is a systemic issue within our culture as the patriarchal nature of our society allows for the condonement and even celebration of such behavior. Any defense of these men's contributions is inexcusable with Gadsby taking on a mocking sarcastic tone when talking about Picasso's art stating "if you ruin. cubism, then civilization as we know it will crumble". This sarcastic remark challenges the notion that genius or reputation excuses a man's immoral behavior, highlighting the double standards for men who benefit from the inherent advantages of …show more content…

The show's closing minutes are devoid of laughter, which is unusual for a stand up that normally end with the comedian's funniest joke, leaving the audience with a laugh to remember. Gadsby certainly leaves the audience with something to remember, instead posing a poignant question "I wonder how a man would feel if they’d lived my life", referencing the advantage men have to their lives as a result of our patriarchal society. In an emotional, shaky voice staring straight at the audience she reveals "it was a man who sexually assaulted me when I was a. it was two men who raped me when I was barely twenty" which forcefully confronts viewers to grapple with Gadsby's emotional and physical trauma. This trauma was a result of societal constructs of femininity which is so deeply rooted in society that instead of enduring this alienation it would be more humane to "put a bullet in [her] head if it is that much of a crime to be different". The impassioned and tearful delivery of this line ensures that the audience is left with a lasting impression, compelled to reflect on the violent, traumatic nature of societal prejudice towards women who break away from the constructs of femininity. These rigid societal expectations limit humanity's potential as "difference is

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