Hannah Gadsby: Nanette

Nanette is a show by the comedian Hannah Gadsby - a Tasmanian lesbian who has been trudging around the comedy circuit for a while. She jokes about her lesbianism, about the trauma of coming out, the trauma of being gay in conservative Tasmania, the trauma of being hated by men. I do not want to say too much about Nanette, but it is not just any old 'stand-up' routine with punchlines every minute. Feminist or otherwise, comedy shows can be relatively same-y (not in content, but in format, as Gadsby easily explains). Gadsby created Nanette to tackle that usual format: and damn, is it something. I also loved it because my partner pointed out that her show is like watching a one-woman version of the conversations my best friend (the illustrator for LCA) and I have (which is the best compliment ever). I am still processing it after watching it earlier this week, as a lot of what she says, of what she makes us uncomfortable about, is very close to home. 

I have a special anger at comedy, after experiencing awful characters within the 'comedy circuit'. So, seeing this queer, woman survivor was unmeasurably relieving for me. To see someone who so outwardly calls out the bullshit was cathartic. You need to watch it to fully comprehend the impact of what she says, so I won't even try to explain the topics and truths she makes us all see. When you have time, whether you're a survivor or not, when you have energy and when you are in a safe space: please watch Nanette. 

Watch: https://www.netflix.com/title/80233611