May 10th FUNKY FRIDAY

 First, we watched this video of these people poking fun at the Japanese culture by exaggerating the motions and gestures we give. I found it hysterical but not as much as Megu(Kii) who was laughing right next to me like she was about to hyperventilate. haha
 Anyways, the next video we watched was set in the same place as the first video; a sushi bar. However, I did not find the video funny at all. A man was shot in the stomach with an arrow...how is that supposed to be funny? That is totally and completely different from killing whales. I mean, if I stomped on an ant then would that mean that I have to understand its pain by getting stomped on?
 I am going to go a bit off track here but I personally do not understand the fuss about the killing of whales. I do understand and respect the people who feel the need to protect these animals but I just want to ask them why they won't do the same for cows and pigs that are being treated way more brutally just to become our meals. I don't know but it just seems a bit hypocritical to me. It's the same for horses that are being eaten. For me as well, the thought of eating a horse alone gives me the shivers but protecting the horses because they're 'cuter' just seems wrong. I think there's a subconscious stereotypical element behind these animal protecting associations.
ANYWAYS, back to the point. My personal thoughts towards the whole issue of whale hunting probably stopped me from finding the video to be funny. However, I can easily imagine the people who don't find the issue so relevant laughing at the second video the same way I was laughing at the first video.
The next video we watched had the Sanchez Brothers being hit with soccer balls. I found this video funny because the victims(the Sanchez Brothers) actually seemed to be enjoying it. Whereas the fourth and last video we watched had Japanese college students who were suffering from the immense pain they were going through. The video of the Japanese reminded me of  'Shuke' a historical Japanese term used for the period of time one goes through in order to become a priest. A good example of what people do during their 'Shuke' would probably be the 'Kiyome.' The man would simply stand in front of an ice cold fountain for hours to wash away his sins. The last video probably wasn't funny to me because it reminded me of those Japanese rituals that I don't fully understand.
The answer to the discussion question, why we don't find these old Japanese programs funny anymore...
I don't think we don't find it funny anymore. Personally, I despise it but it is true that some programs on TV still do similar projects. For example, there is a popular program on the Japanese tele called 'Mechaike' and there is a segment where these people with eye masks are fed with some kind of food and if they don't get it right, they are dropped into an ice cold pool.

It is interesting to me to find myself finding some videos funny and some just offensive.

The whole class reminded me of this video. It's part of the Flight of the Conchords.
Some will find it offensive, some will find it hysterical:)

Gotta get started reading Loewen now...