Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth

Dave Chappelle. For What It's Worth. Dir. Stan Lathan. The Fillmore Auditorium. Sony Pictures, 2004. DVD.

This DVD is a recording of Chappelle’s stand-up performance at the Fillmore auditorium in San Francisco. Themes of the one hour act include race, gentrification, law enforcement, celebrity crime, stereotyping and fame. In particular, his discussion of the specific character of the city of San Francisco raises issues of racial difference and community discord, noting the racial differences between San Francisco and nearby Oakland. Chappelle’s stand-up comedy frequently deals with issues of racial difference and racism. An actor in film as well, Chappelle had his own sketch comedy show on the Comedy Central network which dealt with many of the same issues. The comedian has also written and spoken publicly about the pressures of fame and the influence of money and power on the creative arts. He performs to a multiracial, multi-ethnic audience.