Chinese Indonesians Stand-Up Comedians on YouTube: Laughing with or Laughing at

Abstract

Humour is a powerful tool to convey social critique. This research aims to investigate how four young Chinese Indonesians stand-up comedians strategically use comedy to contest the hegemonic discourses of Chinese Indonesians identity. By conducting a textual analysis on recorded television performances that could also now be viewed in YouTube, research findings show how as standup comedians, they use humour in articulating their minority positioning. By doing self-deprecation especially in relation to issues such as Chinese Indonesian parenting, their (in)visibility, and being a double or even triple minority, they are inviting the audience to laugh with them in challenging mainstream stereotypes of Chinese Indonesians through their comical narratives and punch lines.