Louis CK on Female Culture
December 8, 2011 9:17 AM Subscribe
Louis CK on Female Culture. "I myself have two daughters, a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old, and I've learned from those girls how to be a better man. If I'd had a boy, then there'd be two shitty versions of me. The last thing I need to do is fail twice with two different people: me and my son."
This post was deleted for the following reason: Big Louis CK fan, but this is really pretty thin. -- cortex
When I get up in the morning, for instance, they're already dressed, with their teeth brushed and looking nice. I'm not capable of any of that.
It's easy when mom has to do all the hard work...
posted by Foci for Analysis at 9:31 AM on December 8, 2011 [6 favorites]
It's easy when mom has to do all the hard work...
posted by Foci for Analysis at 9:31 AM on December 8, 2011 [6 favorites]
The reason that boys and girls act differently is because adults treat them differently...
As the parent of fraternal twins, lol.
posted by DU at 9:31 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
As the parent of fraternal twins, lol.
posted by DU at 9:31 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
It's easy when mom has to do all the hard work...
He's a a divorced dad sharing custody. It's a centerpiece of the show, which draws heavily on his life.
Also, fuck everyone in the comments there.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 9:33 AM on December 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
He's a a divorced dad sharing custody. It's a centerpiece of the show, which draws heavily on his life.
Also, fuck everyone in the comments there.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 9:33 AM on December 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
In Idiocracy 2, all the public intellectuals are stand-up comedians.
posted by mattbucher at 9:34 AM on December 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by mattbucher at 9:34 AM on December 8, 2011 [4 favorites]
When I get up in the morning, for instance, they're already dressed, with their teeth brushed and looking nice. I'm not capable of any of that.
Ladies! We look nice, we smell nice, we thoughtfully remove all that nasty body hair, we take care with our appearance! Ladies are so wonderful! We're constantly "noticing" things about other people, making them feel better, managing their emotions! We're not "little balls of want" because we know how to put our desires aside!
We work really well at call centers and in shitty jobs, as Nina Power observes.
That's why when there's a financial crisis and the world goes to hell BUT you don't want a revolution or significant social change, it's great to tell everyone to be more like the ladies! If men would only learn to be neater and quieter and put aside their desires - except for the CEOs, of course - and if women would just keep on truckin' with their self-abnegation - why, we'd never have another riot!
posted by Frowner at 9:34 AM on December 8, 2011 [14 favorites]
Ladies! We look nice, we smell nice, we thoughtfully remove all that nasty body hair, we take care with our appearance! Ladies are so wonderful! We're constantly "noticing" things about other people, making them feel better, managing their emotions! We're not "little balls of want" because we know how to put our desires aside!
We work really well at call centers and in shitty jobs, as Nina Power observes.
That's why when there's a financial crisis and the world goes to hell BUT you don't want a revolution or significant social change, it's great to tell everyone to be more like the ladies! If men would only learn to be neater and quieter and put aside their desires - except for the CEOs, of course - and if women would just keep on truckin' with their self-abnegation - why, we'd never have another riot!
posted by Frowner at 9:34 AM on December 8, 2011 [14 favorites]
The next Steve Jobs will totally be a chick, because girls are No. 2--and No. 2 always wins in America.
Really? Because we've been No. 2 on the gender spectrum for a very long time, and I do believe that we are still making less money with the same qualifications and the same jobs as men.
I like Louis CK, but this article was weak, and to some extent I feel like it's a very mild version of, "We have a black president so racism's over, right?" logic. He's right that things are, right now, better for women than they have been in the past; he's a damn fool if he thinks one of his daughters could grow up to be Steve Jobs and be allowed the same opportunity or treated, by his coworkers, the media, and everyone else, in the same fashion.
posted by WidgetAlley at 9:34 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
Really? Because we've been No. 2 on the gender spectrum for a very long time, and I do believe that we are still making less money with the same qualifications and the same jobs as men.
I like Louis CK, but this article was weak, and to some extent I feel like it's a very mild version of, "We have a black president so racism's over, right?" logic. He's right that things are, right now, better for women than they have been in the past; he's a damn fool if he thinks one of his daughters could grow up to be Steve Jobs and be allowed the same opportunity or treated, by his coworkers, the media, and everyone else, in the same fashion.
posted by WidgetAlley at 9:34 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
Wow. The article's fluff, but that comment thread is crazier than a bag of wolverines.
posted by Iridic at 9:34 AM on December 8, 2011
posted by Iridic at 9:34 AM on December 8, 2011
I'm just saying, look at even the most innocuous kids' books. The traditional gender treatment is overwhelming.
posted by mrgrimm at 9:35 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by mrgrimm at 9:35 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
The other kid, she's 4 and she's a fucking asshole.
posted by empath at 9:36 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by empath at 9:36 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I love Louis CK, but this article is mostly fluffy bunk. And obviously a bit light for a post.
It's an "as told to." Which is to say it was probably a phone interview on a variety of topics and the reporter liked the riff and wrote it up as an "article." Almost certainly off the cuff, in any case, and should not be used as a gauge of Louis CK's (abundant) talent as a comedy writer.
It's easy when mom has to do all the hard work...
He's divorced and was making a not-terribly-great gag. Again, almost certainly just shooting the breeze with some reporter.
For a much better sense of how Louis CK talks about being a parent, here's his awesome stand-up riff "Why?"
posted by gompa at 9:37 AM on December 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's an "as told to." Which is to say it was probably a phone interview on a variety of topics and the reporter liked the riff and wrote it up as an "article." Almost certainly off the cuff, in any case, and should not be used as a gauge of Louis CK's (abundant) talent as a comedy writer.
It's easy when mom has to do all the hard work...
He's divorced and was making a not-terribly-great gag. Again, almost certainly just shooting the breeze with some reporter.
For a much better sense of how Louis CK talks about being a parent, here's his awesome stand-up riff "Why?"
posted by gompa at 9:37 AM on December 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's easy when mom has to do all the hard work...
OMG this comment indicates a complete lack of familiarity with Louis CK and his life. Wow, hilariously off the mark.
posted by nathancaswell at 9:38 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
OMG this comment indicates a complete lack of familiarity with Louis CK and his life. Wow, hilariously off the mark.
posted by nathancaswell at 9:38 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
huh, "Female Culture"
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 9:39 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 9:39 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
(Also that one empath just linked, which me & mrs gompa quote back and forth with regard to our ferociously stubborn six-year-old daughter all the time.)
posted by gompa at 9:40 AM on December 8, 2011
posted by gompa at 9:40 AM on December 8, 2011
Also, I love Louis CK but this article was kind of dumb.
posted by nathancaswell at 9:40 AM on December 8, 2011
posted by nathancaswell at 9:40 AM on December 8, 2011
I have a boy and a girl, and if left to their own devices NEITHER of them would ever brush their teeth or their hair, so I don't know what he's talking about.
I love Louis CK, so I'm going to go un-read this now. :(
posted by mothershock at 9:42 AM on December 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
I love Louis CK, so I'm going to go un-read this now. :(
posted by mothershock at 9:42 AM on December 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Louis CK is the new Woody Allen, it's more important to pretend to like him than to really like him.
posted by Keith Talent at 9:44 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Keith Talent at 9:44 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
...you don't want a revolution or significant social change...
Louis CK is one of the few comedians whom I genuinely believe DOES what significant social change, but I can see why this article would leave anyone unimpressed with the man. If only "DOESN'T DO JUSTICE TO LOUIS CK" was a flagging option.
posted by bunglin jones at 9:46 AM on December 8, 2011
Louis CK is one of the few comedians whom I genuinely believe DOES what significant social change, but I can see why this article would leave anyone unimpressed with the man. If only "DOESN'T DO JUSTICE TO LOUIS CK" was a flagging option.
posted by bunglin jones at 9:46 AM on December 8, 2011
Oh? An article that uses sterotypes to explain that one gender is superior to another features a comment thread with frustrated angry voices? This is indeed a fresh occurance on the internet today.
posted by Winnemac at 9:47 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Winnemac at 9:47 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
gompa wins, WidgetAlley comes in second.
Esp. regarding gompa's comment, when we talk to people informally, we all blab. We want to sound witty and intelligent, but not every thought assembled in our great big thought raisins is particularly insightful. Comedians particularly have to solve those linguistic equations to maximize more variables than just truthfulness, but also pithiness. There is a very good chance that he was just saying something he had been musing, and the reporter decided to spin it off as something bigger than it was intended.
posted by JHarris at 9:48 AM on December 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Esp. regarding gompa's comment, when we talk to people informally, we all blab. We want to sound witty and intelligent, but not every thought assembled in our great big thought raisins is particularly insightful. Comedians particularly have to solve those linguistic equations to maximize more variables than just truthfulness, but also pithiness. There is a very good chance that he was just saying something he had been musing, and the reporter decided to spin it off as something bigger than it was intended.
posted by JHarris at 9:48 AM on December 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Louis CK is the new Woody Allen
Wow, that's a bold statement, comparing an above-average comedian (Louis CK) to Woody Allen.
posted by ReeMonster at 9:49 AM on December 8, 2011
Wow, that's a bold statement, comparing an above-average comedian (Louis CK) to Woody Allen.
posted by ReeMonster at 9:49 AM on December 8, 2011
You know, when some dude claims to be all feminist and sensitive and stuff and basically says "men are naturally so lazy and selfish and incompetent and dirty and women are naturally so clean and pretty and unselfish and helpful"....well, I understand that dude to be saying "I am going to keep doing whatever the hell I want - lazily, selfishly, messily - and I really love it that the ladies pick up after me and make me feel nice, so I will keep them happy by empty praise, ladies care about feelings and stuff like that!"
posted by Frowner at 9:52 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 9:52 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
Re: girls are cleaner...no. They are just as capable of smelly sloppy disgusting behavior as boys. The real truth is that we expect women to both be cleaner and to keep men cleaner, as a society, so girly=clean gets hammered home at some point.
In other words, it mostly ain't little boys getting pink toy mop and broom sets at Christmas time.
posted by emjaybee at 9:55 AM on December 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
In other words, it mostly ain't little boys getting pink toy mop and broom sets at Christmas time.
posted by emjaybee at 9:55 AM on December 8, 2011 [5 favorites]
Wow, that's a bold statement, comparing an above-average comedian (Louis CK) to Woody Allen.
I can't tell if you intend this sarcastically or not.
posted by JHarris at 9:55 AM on December 8, 2011
I can't tell if you intend this sarcastically or not.
posted by JHarris at 9:55 AM on December 8, 2011
I am familiar with Louis CK's work but I didn't know he was divorced nor did I pick up the irony in his writing. Just assumed he was just being a lazy jerk, you know, like the persona he projects on stage.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 9:55 AM on December 8, 2011
posted by Foci for Analysis at 9:55 AM on December 8, 2011
"I am going to keep doing whatever the hell I want - lazily, selfishly, messily - and I really love it that the ladies pick up after me and make me feel nice, so I will keep them happy by empty praise, ladies care about feelings and stuff like that!" - Josher71
posted by josher71 at 9:56 AM on December 8, 2011
posted by josher71 at 9:56 AM on December 8, 2011
As for why girls turn out cleaner than boys, culture molds behavior in a hundred unseen ways.
posted by JHarris at 9:57 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by JHarris at 9:57 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I am familiar with Louis CK's work but I didn't know he was divorced.
I don't really know how that's possible since about 80% of his standup is either about his sad, doomed marriage, his divorce, or what it's like to take care of his daughters as a single dad. But carry on.
posted by nathancaswell at 9:57 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
I don't really know how that's possible since about 80% of his standup is either about his sad, doomed marriage, his divorce, or what it's like to take care of his daughters as a single dad. But carry on.
posted by nathancaswell at 9:57 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
You know, when some dude claims to be all feminist and sensitive and stuff and basically says "men are naturally so lazy and selfish and incompetent and dirty and women are naturally so clean and pretty and unselfish and helpful"....well, I understand that dude to be saying "I am going to keep doing whatever the hell I want - lazily, selfishly, messily - and I really love it that the ladies pick up after me and make me feel nice, so I will keep them happy by empty praise, ladies care about feelings and stuff like that!"
JUST TO REITERATE THIS WAS NOT A CAREFULLY THOUGHT-OUT THINKPIECE ON 21ST-CENTURY FEMINISM IT WAS A STAND-UP COMEDIAN RIFFING TO SOME REPORTER AND TRYING TO SOUND LIGHT AND HUMOUROUS ABOUT IT ALL NOT ANTICIPATING THAT THE REPORTER WOULD KNOW THAT "LOUIS CK RIFFS ON FEMINISM = A BAZILLION PAGEVIEWS" AND WROTE IT UP LIKE IT WAS THE ESSAY YOU THINK YOU'RE RESPONDING TO.
KTHXBYE
nor did I pick up the irony in his writing
IT WAS NOT "HIS WRITING" IT WAS AN INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTION
SRSLY BYE
posted by gompa at 9:58 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
JUST TO REITERATE THIS WAS NOT A CAREFULLY THOUGHT-OUT THINKPIECE ON 21ST-CENTURY FEMINISM IT WAS A STAND-UP COMEDIAN RIFFING TO SOME REPORTER AND TRYING TO SOUND LIGHT AND HUMOUROUS ABOUT IT ALL NOT ANTICIPATING THAT THE REPORTER WOULD KNOW THAT "LOUIS CK RIFFS ON FEMINISM = A BAZILLION PAGEVIEWS" AND WROTE IT UP LIKE IT WAS THE ESSAY YOU THINK YOU'RE RESPONDING TO.
KTHXBYE
nor did I pick up the irony in his writing
IT WAS NOT "HIS WRITING" IT WAS AN INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTION
SRSLY BYE
posted by gompa at 9:58 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
Anyone who thinks girls are inherently cleaner than boys has never used a women's restroom.
posted by availablelight at 9:58 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by availablelight at 9:58 AM on December 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
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The truth is that boys and girls aren't inherently that different. The reason that boys and girls act differently is because adults treat them differently. Just go to a playground and watch.
Better riff: Boys fuck things up; girls are fucked up (but he's still wrong, imo)
posted by mrgrimm at 9:29 AM on December 8, 2011 [2 favorites]