Identity politics and the rise of American anti-comedy

Amy Schumer won’t be appearing in any Super Bowl ads this year. Not because she’s just announced she’s pregnant (mazel tov!) but because she wants to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players standing up — or, more accurately, kneeling down — to racism. Though, as the New York Post points out, it’s not entirely clear if the stand-up comedian had been asked to front any commercials. Still, it’s the Insta likes that count and, as Schumer posted on her page: ‘I know it must sound like a privilege ass sacrifice but it’s all I got.’

Privilege ass celebrities are getting woke all over the shop. Progressive culture, which is now the dominant culture, divides its subjects into victims and the privileged, assigning grievance sainthood to the former and demanding self-abasing contrition from the latter. There are certain pleasures to be derived from performative masochism on gender or race, not least the opportunity to signal that you are not the problem (why, you are an ‘ally’!); it’s all those tacky people in Arkansas trailer parks — they’re the problem.