What's in a Name?

I was not aware of any controversy regarding Dave Chappelle and his recent honor at his alma mater. Just as well because there is really no controversy. Chappelle certainly addressed the situation with the kind of artistic expression and class that very few could accomplish. I think it is because he is a once in a generation talent and genius. This 40 minute Netflix special is extremely captivating and I think history will show it to be a significant event in time. I feel so sad and sorry for the young men and women of the school who failed to honor this legend instead they treated his once in a lifetime art as if it did not exist. I thought of Vincent Van Gogh or Mark Twain returning to their alama mater only to be ridiculed by a bunch of spoiled unappreciative young adults. What a waste of what should have been a proud and wonderful moment for the The Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington D. C. Many so called art students were too deaf, dumb and blind to celebrate and embrace the moment. I think that may be one reason Chappelle was so hurt by it all. Masterpiece 40 minutes of television and thank you Netflix for airing this. When Dave Chappelle speaks you hang on every word. Still a relatively young man to be a legend. By the way does anyone have a problem with naming it "Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression". And Dave Chappelle['s name certainly needs to be added if he chooses to allow that minor modification.

Dave shines the light squarely on group think. Many of us (especially those of us who grew up in an urban environment in the 70's and 80's) think of mob mentality as a fault of autocratic types. Dave's message is that anyone can fall prey to censorship and ignore the art even when they think they're standing up for something.

Some people that I watched with felt Dave was crowing about himself too much. I responded that this is Dave's reply to the critics. When I saw him live at his documentary screening he was in pain at how so many had reacted to his art. He now has his chance to respond and it was done in a way only Dave could do.

If you like Dave you won't need a review to watch this. But if you judged him and his art based on The Closer, you should watch this before you continue to judge.

We're all sick of it and you help us escape it with comedy and glaringly obvious insights that so many people can't see for some reason. Never back down!

After his former high school, Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC, decides to rename its theatre after him, comedian Dave Chappelle gives a speech at the school. He talks about his history with the school, what the school means to him and the importance of art.

An interesting, sometimes moving, presentation from Dave Chappelle. I wanted to say "stand-up routine" as that what I always think of when I see Chappelle up on stage. But it is clearly much more than that. There are elements of humour - you can't expect Chappelle to NOT be funny - but it is a wonderfully sincere and moving telling of what the school means to him and what it has done for him.

His discussion of the importance of art and not bowing to conformity is also quite telling as it essentially outlines why art exists and why it should never be censored.

Dave Chappelle is a brilliant comedian and in this special at the the Duke Ellington School, which was to be renamed in his honor, he reminisces of attending the school to learn how to act in order to become a stand up comedian. A comic at a club advised him to do so.

His previous TV concert, The Closer contained material considered offensive to some viewers. I found it to be extremely funny. I need my comedy to be uncomfortable at times and, as with George Carlin and Sam Kinison, Chappelle is unafraid to wade into verboten subject matter.

Dave is at his best as he describes his first season on network television and his decision to walk away from a skyrocketing career and travel to Africa for some time away from show business.

He closes with an excellent new name for the theater. Do not miss What's in a Name?