Hannah Gadsby's Comedy is a Breath of Fresh Air in a World Where Misogyny and Transphobia are Considered Funny
By Lillith Rengstorf
With my semester really starting to pick up, I took some time for myself last weekend. I made the two hour drive home from college to go with my mom to see a comedy show in Chicago. Now, this wasn’t just any random comedian, it was Hannah Gadsby performing their new show “Woof”, and they are who I’m writing this article about. I was first introduced to Hannah Gadsby by my parents through their Netflix standup specials, “Something Special”, “Douglas”, and “Nanette”, and since then they have had a special place in my heart.
Gadsby is a queer, autistic stand up comedian from Australia. Their identity forms a large part of their comedy, while they explore themes of gender, sexuality, trauma, and politics within their own life experiences. Their stand up special “Nanette” is what catapulted them to fame, however in researching for this article I discovered that they have had a much longer career. “Nanette” premiered on Netflix in 2018. I highly recommend watching it, however, it is deeply personal and deals with many heavy and difficult topics. As a queer woman who has also struggled with mental illness and assault, “Nanette” was deeply moving for me. I remember watching it last semester in my dorm room on my laptop, curled up in my chair ugly crying, because I had never seen someone who is like me, voice the thoughts that so many of us have had, so unashamedly on a stage in front of hundreds of people. While Gadsby’s subsequent stand up shows took on a much lighter tone, the themes of LGBTQ+ rights, their experience with their autism diagnosis, and people’s perception of their life, work, and identity, remain.
The specific show my mom and I attended in Chicago was very much in line with their previous work. However, in this one, they took direct digs at Netflix and Dave Chapelle, for their well-known anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, and the platforming of problematic and hateful content to boost the algorithm. They also discussed how fame is changing them, and their hopes and fears for their career. It was a hilarious, but also deeply moving night. I had actually never been to a live comedy show before, and I was very grateful to my mom for getting main floor tickets. I was able to see Gadsby’s facial expressions and gestures, and it added infinitely to my experience. I know too that Gadsby attracts a specific crowd, namely women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and because of this, the whole theater felt like a space where I was seen and protected. In the world right now, where comedians who keep making the same old transphobic and misogynistic jokes have platforms on the largest screens and stages in the world, all while whining about being canceled, Hannah Gadsby’s comedy is a breath of fresh air. They are unflinching in their criticisms of the status quo, and of the injustice, while also maintaining a sense of humor and lightness about their life. Don’t just take my word for it, if nothing else, at least give their specials on Netflix a try, I almost promise you’ll find something that sticks with you.
About the Author
Lilith is studying Biology at Butler University in Indianapolis, she is also pursuing a minor in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She has been out as bisexual for over four years, and uses she/they pronouns. Lilith also serves on the executive board of the LGBTQIA Alliance at Butler University. In her free time she loves to crochet, embroider, and read.