BY GABRIEL PRINCEWILL
British constitutional historian, John Starkey, has branded outspoken Russell Brand as ”far too extreme” as he joined Royals to commemorate Magna Carter- the historic moment when civil liberties were given the thumbs up by legislatures. He said it is a Russell Brand moment, far too extreme, far too republican, far too anarchical. to Brand recently used sarcastic rhetoric to congratulate the Queen for not dying, and also jokingly proposed that the ISIS flag be flown above Buckingham Palace.
One can bet that her Royal highness was not at all amused. Indeed, there should be a limit to the way comedy is used for entertainment, though Brand’s unusual and fearless inclination to mock or ridicule any body or organisation is what defines his original style. No doubt, his boundless taste for jokes have an appeal of its own in some quarters, for his audience are forever intrigued by the uncertainty of what to expect whenever he occupies a podium to entertain a crowd,
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Brand is a very different specie with a different set of experiences. A graduate and a recovered heroin addict, he exhibits traits from two polar opposites of a wide spectrum. As funny as he can be, it becomes a little worrying when he fails to differentiate serious issues from from those that can be used jovially, His comment recently at the Shoreditch comedy cafe that the ISIS flag should fly over Buckingham Palace was ostensibly intended to compel the mind to envisage a scenario that contradicts reality, then see the funny side of that. However, it was avowedly extreme and distasteful. Nevertheless, he could argue that the fact we know the ISIS flag will never be flown above Buckingham palace is the reason we shouldn’t take it so seriously. Yet, it is somewhat impossible for some people not to be offended.
Cut from a different cloth, the 40 year old essex born comedian and actor does exactly what he wants. Underlying every action of his is a reason or ideology, either one has already put in the public domain, or one not yet openly revealed. He once openly declared that the Queen was presiding over a group of MP sex abusers- a comment that is incredibly insolent on the face of it, but one that can be construed as an indirect fact. Those comments may have been an opportunity for him to express his repugnance at the disgraceful scandal that surrounded MP;s collectively over child sex abuses. He uses the fundamental civil liberty of freedom of expression to the full. Consideration of the effect it may have on those at whose expense his jokes are cracked is scarce with him. The effect he intends to project always takes precedence over any emotive factors.
. Brand’s first presenting role came in 2000 as a video journalist on MTV where he presented Dance floor chat, tommy night clubs in Brixton and Ibiza and hosted the true regents show . He was soon fired from the role after he dressed up like Osami Bin Laden to work,the day after the September 11 attacks. This is Russell Brand for you. His actions are often designed to shock, such that the joke is embodied in the shock of his actions. He is an intelligent guy and knows what he is doing, but intelligence is not full proof of prudence. This man is audacious and full of character, but some fine tuning of some of his jokes will be useful. He may disagree, because that may change his brand. Perhaps his Brand is defined by the powerful autonomy he has over his words, and the versatility that accompanies his individuality. After all Brand does seem to care for the needy and his stated resentment of capitalism may be a reflection of an affection towards the ordinary man- a desire for equality of treatment.
However, the poignant manner in which he jokes about with serious matters makes it doubtful he would appreciate any similar treatment in any form or shape.
However, comedy is inherently always at the expense of someone. Not much room for sentimental values, and it is in this harsh truth hat Brand may have a defense of some sort. That defense is avowedly outweighed by the fact that as humans with emotions, the jokes chosen for comedy must always be proportionate to the objective intended by the comedian and the potential harmful effects that inevitably accompany the joke. Hopefully Brand will get this message soon enough. Still an alteration of Brand’s antics will change the Brand we today know as Russell Brand.
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