A few weeks back now I read and watched this "who's funnier" competition on the CBC site.  It was between Flight of the Conchords and Lonely Island -- two different all-male music-comedy teams that are hugely popular.

My clear favorite was FOTC because they have the ability to be both sexual, funny, and vulnerable.  Many of their songs are about sex, girlfriends, bodies, and desire -- but not in the same way as LI.  With creative set-ups and wacky deliveries Bret and Jemaine perform many typical male (straight-male) fantasies with a clever mix of pleasure and playfullness.  They celebrate themselves, rather than typical music-video fem-flesh and put male sexuality on stage that is neither objectifying of themselves or women.  Good comedy for me shows mostly truth with a bit of the absurd.  I think FOTC have the right mix.

I also like FOTC more because of the close-male relationship between Bret and Jemaine.  Some male relationships are marked by constant teasing or put-downs.  Others might be based in competitive debating, sports, or biggest joker.  Even worse is a boxed-in homophobia that stops guys from telling one another how good they look, what good leaders they are, or how much you enjoy their company.  In one of my favorite clips, Jemaine tries to cheer up his buddy by singing him a song about all of Bret's strengths.  It's caled "Bret, you got it going on".

I think being conscious and critical about gender, doesn't need to be anti-sexual. Some of the themes of this blog (so far) might leave the reader with the impression that male or masculine sexual desires are destructive, abusive, dominating, dis-embodied, and mis-guided.  That would be tragic in my opinion.  I'd like to hear/watch/read more examples of this FOTC type of sexual energy and expression, any suggestions?

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Paul does media education workshops with youth and likes to laugh.