Self-Censorship and Comedy Don't Mix...?
Also, I'm going on tour—L.A., Seattle, Portland! Tell your West Coast friends 🎤
Life in America is… A lot right now. I’m trying to manage the delicate balance between staying informed and staying sane, all while wrestling with a sense of déjà vu.
Before I did my very first open mic in Shanghai, back in 2017, I was told that I was not allowed to talk about the 3 T’s = Tiananmen Square, Tibet, and Taiwan. Anything political or LQBTQ was likewise off-limits. The red line was drawn brightly in the sand and I gave it a wide berth.
After I left Shanghai, I began “revenge binging on democracy.” I got a library card, I went to lectures and book talks, I went to protests (I even organized a rally in Times Square), and I started writing jokes that I never even considered writing while living in China. But now I find myself asking familiar questions: Should I tell this joke? Should I post this video clip? Would I get into trouble for reposting this tweet?
I’ve had a lot of practice at self-censoring, and I don’t like that about myself. I’ve written about the Chinese government cracking down on stand-up in the past. I was cautiously optimistic about the comedy scene in China then, as I am cautiously optimistic about freedom of expression in the U.S. right now.
To me, the microphone is an immense privilege. To the best of my ability, I try to ensure that my jokes entertain and inform. When people who haven’t lived in China are surprised when I tell them I started stand-up comedy in China, I joke that there’s plenty of live, laugh, love under an authoritarian regime. But the more nuanced truth, without a punchline, is that there’s a lot of room between complete silence and outright defiance. (There’s a reason why this Substack is called Happy Medium lol)
As an immigrant here in the United States on a work visa, I have to figure out the delicate balance between speaking my mind and staying safe. China’s censorship taught me caution; stand-up comedy demands me to be brave.
If you’re on the West Coast, or have friends in the area, I am going on the road in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland with comedian Kiki Yeung. Would love to see you there!
MAY 16 Los Angeles The Ice House 9:30pm
May 22 Seattle Unexpected Productions 8:00pm
May 23 Portland Kickstand Comedy 10:00pm
May 25 Seattle Laughs Comedy Club 7:00pm
