Welcome to Fantom Island, where iLL-Literacy's legend finds its habitat. If you've happened upon this portal, may we be as bold as to assert that nested in you is a healthy curiosity. Whether you were drawn here by the Slanted i at this page's 1-o-clock, the quick flash of during loading, or simply because you have a click-happy finger – you've arrived. HihowRUhi?
The peculiar thing about Fantom Island is that it is but a mirage – an Imaginary oasis isolated in the confines of our brainwaves. We shall gradually reveal morsels of our folklore here, so please visit often. To return, simply bring your Imagination as your passport.
Fantom Island
UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Aziz Ansari
Last night, in an act to demonstrate the complete and utter dopeness that is NYC, we swooped ourselves over to the Upright Citizen’s Brigade in Midtown to catch a free comedy show whose lineup included, among others, Aziz Ansari. Now some of you may be familiar with his work on Human Giant, while others might be privy to his role on NBC’s Parks & Recreations. But neither seem to have been as infectious as Aziz’s role as the fictitious standup comic known as Raaaaaaaandy, a character used mainly to promote the film Funny People but that has since mutated into the joys of fraternity douchebags and college activist douchebags alike. And you know what? Even spoken word digit.iLL.funk douchebags like us.
Wearing the mask of the typical alpha-male-a-la-Dane-Cook comedian, Aziz takes on this version of stand-up similarly to how Spank Rock approaches hip-hop – so overly misogynistic, homophobic, racist, and altogether politically incorrect that it draws attention and hopefully contemplation to the real ridiculousness that exists within the corresponding genre, while at the same time challenging those who feel uncomfortable or offended to analyze what this “to be offended” business really amounts to.
But maybe I’m looking too much into it. Maybe he just wants to talk about taaaaaatteeeeees.
