Another Viral Video Hits New Yorkers’ Funny Bones

COMMENTARY | When I first came across an article discussing the latest viral video, as a Brooklyn resident I was excited to see it was aimed at New Yorkers, then when I read further that it was created as an addition to the latest craze of “Stuff People Say” videos (“stuff” isn’t quite the word they chose and “people” can be anyone as in this case “New Yorkers”) I found myself, much like this video jokes a New Yorkers would, beginning to say, “yeah, it’s probably nothing more than the typical lame clichés.”

This assertion ended up being true, but not in the negative way one tends to assume. Eliot and Ilana Glazer’s “Stuff New Yorkers Say” is an interesting, original, and extremely clever satire about the typically stuffy attitudes and stereotypical interactions had by what New Yorkers refer to as Yuppies and Hipsters — the young urban professionals, and trend followers/setters that claim opposition to popular culture while relishing music like Bright Eyes and Florence and the Machine and religiously reading newspapers like The Onion and Village Voice. With references to snobby taste buds and culinary arrogance fueled by the latest reviews of popular websites and magazines, and the perfectly timed interjections of feigned excitement over celebrity sightings this video is sure to get at least a chuckle from most natives, even the ones that are quick to firmly deny any similarity between this spoof and real New Yorkers. One theme is blatantly evident however, the shared “love-hate” relationship New Yorkers have with this city and it is truly comical when the Glazer’s attack this point towards the end of their YouTube smash.

Another classic New Yorker move is spoofed in this, and it’s possibly the one that may face the most denial, as locals will rarely admit it to outsiders, no matter how many it happens to. The “Move!” while walking through typically high traffic areas like Times Square and the ever so common exclamation “I hate tourists!” Of course not all New Yorkers hate tourists, but the ones that do aren’t shy about it, and this video is sure to make note of it. All around this video is refreshing and if nothing else a few minutes of good non-violent New York amusement, and with our snobby taste buds believe me satisfying a New Yorker before the Times told them they should be is quite a feat.

Sources

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmSD3GIe8yw


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