Using vulgar jokes as a weapon: the power of bad taste in Ali Wong’s stand-up comedy

Abstract

In our life, vulgar jokes are often considered to be uncultured and in bad taste. Is bad taste always worse than good taste? In fact, it sometimes possesses a greater power. For instance, in Ali Wong’s performances, vulgar jokes can also be a weapon. This pregnant Asian woman tells dirty jokes, discusses immoral psychology, hidden body secrets, and other societal taboos that people are normally embarrassed to bring up. Based on her three Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra (2016), Hard Knock Wife (2018), and Don Wong (2022), this paper aims to discuss the power of vulgar jokes in Ali Wong’s shows from a gender studies perspective on three aspects: scatological humour, bodily humour, sexual humour. She uses this humour to reduce the offensiveness of harsh viewpoints, package the pain of life, explore profound societal topics, convey her thoughts. She demonstrates through her performances that, when discussing serious subjects, vulgar jokes can serve as an effective tool for expressing viewpoints. People pay close attention as they laugh, they cringe while starting to reflect. If this humour provides a means of resistance, it becomes a weapon. To harness the power of humour, Ali Wong uses the bad taste to express herself.